Bong blasts Mar, says DILG chief performance is 'dismal'

MANILA, Philippines - The word war between Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr and Interior and Local Government Sec.  Manuel Roxas II worsened on Tuesday after the senator sought the resignation from office of his former colleague at the Senate.

Revilla turned the tables on Roxas as he highlighted instances when President Aquino’s top ally exhibited dismal performance of his duties. 

“He’s doing just fine, by his own actions, in destroying himself,” Revilla added.

In a strongly-worded statement, Revilla said Roxas should resign due to the latter's apparent failure to address rising incidents of crime in the country.

As secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Roxas has authority over the Philippine National Police.

“Sa dami ng atraso niya, dapat mag-resign na siya.  Huwag na niya akong gamitin para bumangon sa lugmok niyang kalagayan,” Revilla said.

“I don’t need his pity.  If at all, I pity him,” Revilla said, responding to Roxas’ statements last week that he pities the senator for being involved in the pork barrel controversy.

Revilla insinuated last week that Malacañang and Roxas could be behind former Technology Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan decision to come out and pin down Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Revilla in the pork barrel scam.

The senator referred to Roxas as “Boy Pick Up” in his a privilege speech last month where he revealed how Roxas picked him up and brought him to a breakfast meeting with President Aquino at his official residence in Malacañang at the height of the impeachment trial against former chief justice Renato Corona in 2012.    Revilla said “Boy Pick Up” may have picked up Cunanan to testify against him.

According to Cunanan, Revilla and Estrada had both verified their signatures in documents that showed the two lawmakers had chosen non-government organization (NGOs) linked with alleged pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim Napoles.

Revilla  slammed Roxas over his failure to address major concerns in the area of peace and order.

Revilla also accused the secretary of diverting the public attention from the backlash of Roxas’ apparent disappointing performance in the aftermath of the  Yolanda typhoon last year.

“Kaya nga gumagawa siya ng paraan na ibaling ang atensyon ng mamamayan para makalimutan ang kanyang mga kakulangan,” the senator added.

“He was proven to be ineffective in crisis management and disaster response in Yolanda.  Kaya nga hindi na siya masikmura ng mga tao doon,” Revilla said.

He also scored Roxas’ apparent inefficiency as former secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for failing to address the problems on vehicle registration, lack of registration stickers, and proliferation of colorum vehicles.

“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, are all results of his ineptitude while in the DOTC,” Revilla said.

“Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring resolusyon ang Atimonan Massacre.  Alam ng ating mga kababayan na mas talamak pa ang jueteng.  Now we see a drastic rise in criminality,” the senator said.

Revilla went on his tirades, raising alarm on the “brazenness of criminals in the metropolis.

“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,” he said.

Revilla said the recent incidents are a slap on Roxas’ face as interior and local government secretary.

“Wala nang dahilan para gawin ang kanyang mga ibinibintang sa akin – yung siraan ko pa siya.  Hindi naman kailangan ng kathang-isip o script na paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi.  Sapat na ang katotohanan, at ang mga ginagawa niya para masira siya sa taumbayan,” the senator added.