Bong to PNoy: Don't belittle celebrity-politicians

MANILA, Philippines - Embattled Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. on Friday took exception to President Aquino’s Independence Day speech, where the chief executive took potshots at him and his two colleagues charged in the pork barrel scam.

Revilla reminded President Aquino that his sister, Kris, is also from the showbiz industry and that Filipino artists also helped him in winning the presidency in 2010.

He said that the President should not belittle celebrity-politicians.

Revilla and fellow accused, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, came from the showbiz industry. They took the Senate floor last Monday and Wednesday to decry the filing of charges against them and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, over the pork barrel scam.

“Wag niyang maliitin. Kung ako lang ang gusto niya paturingan, diretsuhin niya ako. There is nothing wrong with that… but I am also entitled to say my message to our countrymen,” Revilla added in reaction to President Aquino’s insinuations that voters should not fall for good script readers and entertainers.

He reiterated that President Aquino should have focused his message on the Independence Day celebration on Thursday in Naga City, rather than attack him and his colleagues.

“Kahapon ay Araw ng Kalayaan, hindi araw kahapon ng pagkawatak-watak… Araw ng Kalayaan kahapon,” said Revilla, who called anew for a stop in the vindictiveness of the Aquino administration.

Revilla batted for the speedy trial amid calls for the creation of special criminal courts to handle pork barrel cases.

“Words are not enough to express what I want… The truth will come out. Just please give us a chance to defend ourselves,” Revilla said.

Hurt and nervous

Revilla, meanwhile, admitted that he is deeply hurt with the filing of the plunder complaint against him and his two colleagues. He also expressed being nervous and having goosebumps at the prospect of being put behind bars.

Revilla’s statements came after the plunder complaint against him was raffled off to the Sandiganbayan. He reiterated he is leaving his fate to God, but he is ready to defend himself in court.

“Let them wait for what I will say in court…because everytime I speak, I cannot take the punches that come my way,” he added. “I believe because I have not the country any wrong.”

He said he is praying that he will get fair treatment from the division that will handle his case that stemmed from the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

“Unang reaction ko? Siyempre kinikilabutan din at kinakabahan kung ano ang mangyayari sa mga darating na oras. Gayunpaman, nakahanda ako at buong loob nating haharapin itong darating na oras or araw, ”  Revilla said over DzBB radio.

Revilla’s case was raffled off to the First Division of Sandiganbayan on Friday.

Once the warrants of arrest are issued, it will be the first time that Revilla will be detained in his entire career as politician.

He said he is ready to get jailed in the course of defending himself and to avoid speculations that he might cover up the case.

“Sa totoo lang, nasa labas man ako, para na rin akong nakakakulong, un yunbg pakiramdam na masakit, pero siempre kailangan natin harapin… mananaig pa rin ang katotohanan,” Revilla added.

Revilla also defended himself from criticisms over his privilege speech last Monday, where he presented an audio-visual presentation where he also sang “Salamat, Kaibigan” in a bid to reach out to all his supporters.

“Ipa sa-Diyos na lang…at talagang kahit anong sabihin eh. Ako man, naghahanap rin ako ng hustisya sa problemang ito,  Para  poi baling naman sa atin ang lahat ng kasalanan, masakit po ata tanggapin yun,” the senator said.

“Sa ating paniniwala, hindi tayo nagkasala sa bayan,” Revilla added.

In jest, he said he wanted a new career in singing once all his troubles subside. He also apologized to those who did not understand his actuations in his privilege speech, where he had also bid his colleagues goodbye.

Without his supporters, Revilla admitted that he would have just given up for the past nine months that he and his family had to face the pork barrel scam.

He said he had two speeches prepared last Monday but he chose the one that dealt with gratitude and a call for unity, not the other one which would have attacked “sins” under the Aquino administration.