Abad denies telling Revilla to convict Corona

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Contrary to the claims of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.,  Budget Secretary  Florencio “Butch” Abad on Wednesday said he could not recall saying “Let’s help each other” to the senator during a meeting with President  Benigno Aquino III regarding the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Abad said he could not remember issuing the statement to Revilla in the context of convicting Corona.

He also said that Revilla’s accusation that the President said “Ibalato mo na sa akin” is out of character of the chief executive.

“That is not true because if you know the President, he would not issue such a statement,” Abad said on Inquirer Radio 990AM.

He said the president only told the senator to vote based on the merit of the case and not to be pressured by interest groups.

He insisted that the president’s meeting with Revilla was not “irregular,” saying the impeachment trial was a political process.

He added that the impeachment was not a judicial process where the President can be held liable for secretly meeting with the senator-judges.

Abad said Revilla should instead explain to the public his involvement in the multi-billion pork barrel scam instead of diverting the issue.

“This is his obligation to the people. He is wasting his opportunity to explain his side,” he said.

On Monday, Revilla made stinging attacks on the pork barrel scam whistle-blowers led by Benhur Luy, but shifted to making allegations against the President and his allies related to the Corona impeachment trial.

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