Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Tuesday called on Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to resign from his post, citing his alleged failure to perform his job.
“Sa dami ng atraso niya, dapat mag-resign na siya. Huwag na niya akong gamitin para bumangon sa lugmok niyang kalagayan,” Revilla said in a statement.
(With all his shortcomings, he should resign. He should not use me to rise from his miserable state)
Revilla was reacting to Roxas’ statement Monday when he denied the senator’s allegation that he was behind Dennis Cunanan, former head of the Technology Resource Center (TRC), who decided to testify against his co-accused in the P10 billion pork barrel scam.
“I pity my friend, Senator Revilla, because it appears that he doesn’t know how to face the evidence provided by Benhur Luy and COA (Commission on Audit). I’m not his enemy,” Roxas was quoted as saying in the media.
But Revilla said: “I don’t need his pity. If at all, ako nga naaawa sa kanya. (I’m the one who pity him).
“Saksi hindi lang ang buong bansa, kundi ang buong mundo, sa kanyang mga kapalpakan. Hanggang ngayon, damang-dama pa rin ng mga Pilipino ang bunga ng kanyang mga pagkukulang,” said the senator.
(Not only the entire country, but the whole world is a witness to all his blunders. Until now, the Filipinos can still feel his shortcomings)
“Kaya nga gumagawa siya ng paraan na ibaling ang atensyon ng mamamayan para makalimutan ang kanyang mga kakulangan.”
(That’s why he’s doing anything to divert the attention of the people and forget his shortcomings.)
“Kung mapapansin ninyo, ang mga hinawakan at hinahawakan na trabaho at departamento ni Sec. Mar Roxas ay ang mga nagkaroon ng malalaking problema,” Revilla added.
(If you all notice, there are always problems in all departments that Secretary Mar Roxas handled.)
He also noted how Roxas had supposedly “proven to be ineffective in crisis management and disaster response in Yolanda.”
“Kaya nga hindi na siya masikmura ng mga tao doon, (That’s why the people there can’t take him anymore),” said the senator.
Revilla said the problems involving vehicle registration, issuance of license plates, issuance of drivers’ licenses, the proliferation of colorum vehicles, the increase in deaths by public transport, the poor state of our airports and seaports, the controversies and irregularities in the LRT and MRT, and the poor state of the country’s transportation and communications were all results of Roxas alleged “ineptitude” while he was the head of the Department of Transportation and Communications.
Revilla also pointed to the “drastic rise” in criminality in the country, the unresolved Atimonan massacre case, and the unabated problem on jueteng with Roxas at the helm of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“The brazenness of criminals is more than alarming. Sobrang tatapang at wala ng takot ang mga kriminal. In fact, kanina lang kung kailan sikat na sikat ang araw, isang jewelry shop, sa loob ng isang mall na sinasabing pag-aari ng kaniyang pamilya mismo, sa loob ng Araneta Center, ay nilooban ng mga armadong kalalakihan.”
(The brazenness of criminals is more than alarming. The criminals are no longer afraid. In fact, just a while ago, a jewelry shop inside a mall supposedly owned by his family inside the Araneta Center was robbed by armed men.)
“Hindi ba’t malinaw na sampal yan sa kanyang mukha bilang kalihim ng DILG? (Isn’t that a clear slap on his face as Secretary of the DILG?),” asked the senator.
Revilla said there was no need for him to destroy Roxas since he has already been doing it to himself by his own actions
“He’s doing just fine, by his own actions, in destroying himself,” the senator added.
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