Bong downplays Cunanan's testimony

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ramon Revilla on Friday downplayed the Department of Justice's (DOJ) approval of Technology Resource Center (TRC) deputy director Dennis Cunanan's application to be state witness against senators implicated in the pork fund misuse.

Revilla belied Cunanan’s claims that he called him up to follow up on the release of funds for non-government organizations linked with pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim Napoles.

The senator said that the DOJ's move to tap Cunanan as state witness reinforces their suspicion that all the pork barrel brouhaha is part of a bigger conspiracy to destroy him and any of his plans for a higher office in 2016.

The actor-turned-politician early on expressed belief that Malacanang is behind all the underhanded tactics waged against him and his colleagues--Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Revila’s lawyer Joel Bodegon described Cunanan’s move as a “veiled attempt to be freed from prosecution of plunder.”

Revilla and Bodegon believed that Cunanan cannot be placd under the Witness Protection Program because he had no solid testimony against the senator.

Bodegon also sought for the disbarment of lawyer Levito Baligod for conflict of interest.

“They need a Ruby Tuason to pin down Senator Revilla. They need a person to declare that he or she delivers money to Senator Revilla, but this strategy will not succeed,” Bodegon said.

The lawyer said that Baligod had conflict of interest for acting as a spokesman for the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Bodegon said that Baligod is already undermining the integrity of the preliminary investigation being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Cambe won't testify

The lawyer also expressed confidence that Richard Cambe, a member of the senator’s staff who is being linked to the pork barrel scam, will not testify against Revilla.

“We are confident. Even if he turns his back, he cannot say anything against Senator Revilla in this issue, “ Bodegon said.

Bodegon reiterated the senator’s defense that the pork barrel anomaly is part of a highly-organized syndicate led by Benhur Luy and other personalities which had worked with and have turned their backs on Napoles.

“This is a handiwork of Benhur Luy. This is obviously an operation of a sophisticated criminal syndicate,” Bodegon said.

He reiterated that the senator’s camp is working double time to ensure that all those involved in the syndicate will be held accountable.

"We are working on this. We want to be sure that our allegations are backed with evidence… That Senator Revilla has nothing to do with this operation…We want the truth to prevail,” Bodegon said.

Bodegon reiterated their stand in the motion for reconsideration filed before the Ombudsman that Luy ad his cohorts forged the signature of Revilla. They also wanted the heads of implementing agencies to face plunder charges for allowing such illegal practices during their watch.