Kap’s Amazing Stories REVILLA SAYS PORK SCAM ISSUE AIMED AT DERAILING HIS PRESIDENTIAL BID

By Ernie Reyes

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Ramon “Bong” Reviila Jr. has linked the latest pork scam accusations hurled against him to the 2016 presidential elections and blamed Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for the emergence of another whistle-blower, who had recently pinned the senator down.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Revilla said he had received information that Roxas was allegedly behind the decision of Technology Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan to surface and “concoct lies” about the senator’s endorsement to the TRC of non-government organizations identified with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

“Ang sa akin lang, eh nalulungkot lang ako dito sa mga nangyayari. Hindi dapat ganito. May nakarating kasi sa ating info na parang siya pa ang nag-convince dito kay Cunanan,” Revilla said.

[I’m saddened by what’s happening. It shouldn’t be like this. An information reached me that he (Roxas) appeared to be the one who convinced Cunanan.]

Revilla then traced Roxas’ alleged moves against him to the announcement of the senator’s partymates in Lakas of Revilla’s intention to run for president in 2016, which is also reportedly being eyed by the DILG chief, the vice presidential candidate of President Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 polls, who lost to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Sinimulan n’ya ito sa Cavite tapos hanggang dito dahil nakita nila ‘yong 2016. Tapos hindi na tayo tinantahan. Ang sa akin lang, sa totoo lang tayo, dapat sa katotohanan. Huwag tayong mag-fabricate…,” said Revilla.

[He (Roxas) started this in Cavite and then up to here because he saw 2016. Then he never stopped. For me, it should just be the truth, for the truth. We should not fabricate.]

Revilla said that if he were Roxas, the best thing to do is to resign rather than advice Aquino of the wrong things. “Kung ako s’ya, mag-resign na lang sya, makakatulong pa siya sa bayan sa pag-resign nya kesa mag-advice siya ng kung anu-ano na kapalpakan sa Presidente.”

The senator said that at a proper forum, he would reveal how Roxas allegedly convinced Cunanan to come out and testify against Revilla.

“Basta ilalabas na lang natin ‘yan sa tamang panahon. Mayroong gumagalaw, malapit sa kanila, pero I’m not going to reveal my source because nakataya din ‘yong buhay ng taong iyon. Pero, alam ko na gumalaw sila at marami silang ginalawan,” Revilla said.

[We will come out with that at the right time. There are people moving who are close to them but I’m not going to reveal my source because the source’s life is at risk. But I already know that they are moving in many areas.]

The senator said he believed that Roxas was instrumental in Cunanan’s decision to come out and testify against Revilla after Ruby Tuason failed to implicate the lawmaker in the alleged pork racket.

“Dahil unang-una lumabas si Ruby Tuason, hindi ako nababanggit. Ngayon, wala silang makuhang mag-witness against me, biglang lalabas si Cunanan [When Ruby Tuason came out, my name wasn’t mentioned. Now, they can’t get a witness against me and Cunanan suddenly surfaces]” Revilla said.

According to Revilla, Cunanan did not mention the senator’s name in his past testimony before the Senate.

“Si Cunanan nag-testify dito noon sa Senado noong first hearing, wala siyang binabanggit na Bong Revilla, ngayon biglang may lalabas na ganito. Ano ba ito? ito ‘yong script, totoong script na sinasabi ni Secretary Mar di ba? Kaya nakakalungkot,” Revilla said.

[During the first hearing, Cunanan testified here at the Senate, he did not mention Bong Revilla, and now something like this will come out. What is this? Isn’t this the true script being mentioned by Secretary Mar? That’s why it’s saddening.]