Philippine Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., center, a popular actor accused of receiving 224 million pesos ($5.1 million) in kickbacks from a scam that allegedly diverted millions of dollars from anti-poverty and development funds allotted to lawmakers pet projects, is escorted by police after attending his arraignment at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Revilla, one of three Philippine senators accused of plunder, has refused to enter a plea Thursday during arraignment by the anti-graft court in the biggest corruption trial in the country in more than a decade. He is currently being held in custody in a detention facility at the Philippine National Police headquarters. AP
MANILA, Philippines—”I love you all, fellow Filipinos,” Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. uttered as he was being escorted back to Camp Crame by police after a brief appearance at the Sandiganbayan where he refused to enter a plea during arraignment Thursday.
Revilla, who was wearing a white Barong Tagalog, was accused of receiving P224.512 million from 2006 to 2010 in kickbacks from a scam that allegedly diverted about P10 billion from Congress’ Priority Development Assistance Funds.
The celebrity politician only managed to say a few words before he was whisked away by heavy security.
“Mananatili tayong matatag at hindi tayo patitinag (We will remain strong and we will not falter),” Revilla said.
“Mahal ko kayong mga Pilipino (I love you all, fellow Filipinos),” he added.
Revilla is facing one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft. Plunder is a non-bailable offense.
Also charged are senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, as well as alleged “pork” scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Besides Revilla, Estrada also surrendered to police.
The prosecutions bolster a campaign by President Benigno Aquino III to fight the corruption that has plagued the nation of 97 million for decades. The problem has festered amid a culture of impunity among powerful politicians and their allies, weak law enforcement and a notoriously slow justice system. With Associated Press
Sen. Bong Revilla is being escorted by police after his arraignment at Sandiganbayan. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net
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