MANILA, Philippines –A “little too vague” was how Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. described insinuations that the charges against Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. were politically motivated.
Revilla, who is charged with plunder and graft at the Sandiganbayan over the “pork barrel” scam, is reportedly eyeing the presidency in 2016. A possible tandem between Revilla and Marcos in 2016 has also been floated in some reports.
Asked if this new tandem probably has threatened their political rivals, Marcos said: “Yan na naman, balik na naman tayo dun sa suspicion na politically motivated itong pangyayari. If you believe that’s the case then maybe that’s part of it.”
(Here we are again, back to suspicions that what’s happening was politically motivated. If you believe that’s the case, then maybe that’s part of it.”
Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
“But siguro naman, I think that’s a little too vague, hindi naman siguro masasabing threat na ganun yun. I don’t think the political leadership, you know ’pag may nagsabing tatakbo sya, that doesn’t mean that they immediately have to go and attack them kasi ang layo pa naman ng 2016 so hindi natin alam kung tuloy ba yun o usapan lang,” he said during the weekly forum “Kapihan sa Senado” on Thursday.
(But maybe I think that’s a little too vague, I don’t think we can say it’s a threat. I don’t think the political leadership, you know when someone says he would run that doesn’t mean that they immediately have to go and attack them because 2016 is still too far so we don’t know yet if that’s going to happen or not.)
“Maybe some people feel threatened but I don’t think there was such a specific threat as a reaction to what is happening now,” Marcos added.
Marcos, meanwhile, defended Revilla and co-accused, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, over criticisms that they are being given special treatment when the court ordered their detention in Camp Crame.
“Because they are being detained pending trial. Hindi pa naman sila na-convict na dadalhin sa kulungan that’s why they are in the facility that they are in now so there’s a difference, there would be a difference,” he said.
Marcos also favored some calls that Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile, who has also been charged with plunder and graft, should be given humanitarian consideration because of his age and health conditions.
“I think so because he really is in need of constant medical attention. He’s 90 years old… I don’t think he’s a flight risk at this point in time. I hope the court does consider it.,” he said.
“And ang ugali naman ng mga Filipino is always to show compassion, so maybe this is another opportunity for us to express our culture in that way,” the senator added.
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