Revilla and Estrada’s Pork Barrel Creed

MANILA, Philippines – “’Pag ang isang tao dumaraan sa isang pagsubok, minsan mahirap mang sabihin, ‘yun din ang nagpapalapit sa iyo sa Panginoon.” (When a person goes through challenging times, sometimes it’s hard to say it but that’s what makes you closer to the Lord.)

Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr and Jinggoy Estrada responded to the pork barrel controversy with their signature dramatic flair. Through tearful privilege speeches and numerous appeals, the two maintained their innocence in the political and legal arena. Yet they are taking their defense to another realm: religion.

Even before the Holy Week, the actors-turned-politicians said they already reflected on the themes of the Lenten season. Crying betrayal, persecution, and condemnation, the once popular and bombastic men turned into meek, Bible-quoting respondents who say they “lift up all to God.” 

The senators drew parallelisms between their ordeal and the passion of Christ. In a predominantly Catholic country that often forgives and forgets, will Filipinos have mercy or shout, “Crucify them! Crucify them?”

Here is Revilla and Estrada’s Pork Barrel Creed:

1. ‘We believe the scam is just a test from God.’

Revilla, Estrada and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile were indicted for the worst corruption scandal in recent history. They are accused of siphoning off development funds to bogus non-governmental organizations and pocketing millions of pesos in kickbacks in a sophisticated conspiracy that outraged jaded Filipinos.

Of the 3, Revilla allegedly got the biggest commissions worth P242 million. He is also said to be the most affected by the controversy. Unlike Estrada and Enrile, the Panday actor has never been arrested. The stigma from the scam also led him to back out of a lead role in Ang Sugo, a movie on the founding of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo religion.

Still, Revilla said his personal calvary brought him closer to God.

“Marami nang pagsubok ang dumaan sa akin at ito na ang pinakamatindi,” Revilla said in past interviews. “Pero sabi nga eh, hindi ka naman bibigyan ng Panginoon ng ganitong klaseng pagsubok kung hindi mo kaya.”

(I’ve been through many trials but this is the worst. But as they say, the Lord won’t give you a burden you cannot bear.)

Revilla said he and his family have been taking Bible studies every weekend since the scandal broke out. They also went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March “to seek divine intervention.“

In his infamous privilege speech in January, he even quoted a Bible passage after calling his critics names and exclaiming “Anak ng Teteng.”

“I have already surrendered my fate to God. Sabi nga po sa Isaiah Chapter 41 verses 10 and 11: ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish,’” Revilla said.  

Estrada’s professed religiosity is also a family affair. “[Sabi ng] nanay ko, ‘Kumapit ka lang sa Panginoon.’ Alam ninyo naman ang nanay ko, relihiyoso. Noong nakulong ako sa Veterans, she always gives me novena prayers.”

(My mother told me to just hang on to the Lord. You know that my mother is religious. When I was imprisoned in Veterans, she always gave me novena prayers.)

2. ‘We fear the Lord.’

Insisting on a clean conscience, Estrada and Revilla invoke the Lord’s name.

“Pinalaki po ako ng aking mga magulang ng may takot sa Diyos, na alam ang tama at mali at kung ano ang makatao at tiwali,” Estrada said at the opening of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation in August 2013. (My parents raised me with fear of the Lord, knowing what is right from wrong and what is just from corrupt.)

Revilla was equally indignant. “Wala akong kasalanan. Hindi ko kayang gawin iyan …. Hindi ko kayang lunukin at hindi ko kayang mag-traydor sa aking mga tagahanga.”

(I committed no sin. I cannot stomach that and I cannot betray my fans.)

To the Ombudsman and the justice department, the two’s repeated endorsement of fake NGOs and Revilla’s confirmation of his signature in pork barrel documents were clear signs of guilt. Netizens say amen, clamoring for their resignation. 

3. ‘We forgive and pray for our enemies.’

Estrada lamented being “crucified and demonized” but said what was most painful was the betrayal of his “Tita Ruby.” Socialite Ruby Tuason testified that she gave bags of cash to her close family friend in a bid to turn state witness.

“It was misjudgment on my part because I allowed friendship to prevail over values and principles,” Tuason told the Senate. “This was what Judas Iscariot must have felt.”

After blasting Tuason in a scathing privilege speech, Estrada now says he will pray for his critics’ “enlightenment” during the Holy Week and go through a “spiritual renewal.”

“Sana maging makatao sila at huwag maging oportunista,” Estrada said. (I hope they become humane and not opportunistic.)

Revilla said the same of his detractors. “Buti pa ang mga hayop at barbaro, alam kung kailan titigil. You don’t hit a man when he’s down. Pero heto, wala pa ring tigil ang pagsipa sa akin kahit bagsak na. Bahala na ang Diyos sa kanila.”

(Animals and barbarians are better than them. They know when to stop. But here, they continue kicking me when I’m already down. I leave their fate to the Lord.)

4. ‘We will rise again.’

Even if they face arrest in what will likely be a protracted trial, Revilla and Estrada already foresee their resurrection. They do not even discount running for higher office in 2016, citing what they call intact mass support in the provinces.

Revilla told showbiz reporters after the New Year, “Napabagsak nila si Bong Revilla. Pero ang masasabi ko, babangon ako!” (They brought Bong Revilla down. But what I can say is I will rise again!)

“Sa pelikula, binubugbog ka muna, sa huli ka gaganti. ‘Di natin iniisip iyan. Basta manaig ang katotohanan at ipaubaya natin sa Panginoon,” he added. (In the movies, you get beat up first and strike back in the end. We are not thinking of that as long as the truth prevails and we leave it up to the Lord.)

Estrada has a similar litany. “Revenge is not mine. It is up to God. I strongly believe that in the end, God will always be the judge.”

Repentant thieves or Pontius Pilate?

For all their talk of faith and godliness, Revilla and Estrada failed to convince religious leaders. Catholic bishops said they have more soul-searching to do.

“Bahagi ng sakramento ng kumpisal o pakikipagsundo ay aminin mo ang iyong kasalanan para patawarin ng Panginoon. Hindi ka rin repentant kapag hindi inamin ang ginawa mong kasalanan at ang ginagawa mo ay bumato nang bumato sa iba,” Father Edu Gariguez of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines told Radyo Veritas.

(Part of the sacrament of confession or reconciliation is an admission of your sins so the Lord will forgive you. You are still unrepentant if you do not admit your mistake and just keep attacking others.) 

Brought to tears by the scam, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle challenged politicians to visit the homes of the intended beneficiaries of the funds.

 “Siguro maglakad-lakad kayo sa gabi, kapag nasa bangketa ka na, makikita mo ‘yung… ‘yung mga pamilya na nagbubukas ng kariton, para doon matulog. Mahawakan lang ninyo ang kamay ng mga mahihirap. Siguro naman maaantig ang inyong puso, sana.”

(Maybe you could walk around at night, and when you reach the alleys where the poor live, you can see the… the families who open their carts, to sleep there. Hold their hands. I hope it will move your hearts – hopefully.)

For Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, ordinary Filipinos should also take pause and reflect on how they contributed to patronage politics by asking government officials for help with personal needs.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Estrada can still afford to crack jokes.

He said while Revilla is busy reading the Bible now, his friend will have much more time to read Scripture soon, when they land in prison. – Rappler.com