Revilla to Aquino, Roxas: Tamaan ng kidlat ang sinungaling!

MANILA, Philippines – “Tamaan ng kidlat kung sino ang nagisinungaling.” (Let lighting strike whoever is lying.)

A day after revealing that Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II drove him to Malacañang in 2012 so the President could talk to him about convicting Chief Justice Renato Corona, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr challenged the two to tell the truth.

During his privilege speech delivered on Monday, January 20, Revilla slammed the Aquino administration for its supposed propensity to bend rules to protect allies and destroy political rivals.

He brought up the administration’s alleged meddling in the impeachment of former Chief Justice Corona, fearing that it might do the same with the Sandiganbayan to make sure he and other opposition senators are convicted in the pork barrel scam.

The president and Roxas both denied the meeting was meant to influence Revilla’s vote. 

Roxas said it was Revilla himself who wanted to meet Aquino to discuss the cityhood of Bacoor and to talk about Revilla’s leadership in Lakas-CMD.

Revilla denied this. “Siya ang nag-imbita sa akin, si Boy Pick-up,” said Revilla, referring to Roxas. (He invited me, Boy Pick-up.)

Revilla said there was no need to discuss his hometown’s cityhood because Bacoor had already met the requirements for its conversion. Aquino signed the papers for Bacoor’s cityhood on April 10, 2012, a month before the senate convicted Corona.

The senator added that if they were friends – as Roxas said – there would be no reason for Revilla to sit in the backseat of his car.

“Kung sasabihin nilang sinungaling ako, I challenge both of them, go to the public, magharap kami, magtinginan kami eye-to-eye, malaman ng tao kung sino ang nagsisinungaling sa amin. At tamaan ng kidlat kung sino ang nagsisinungaling,” Revilla told reporters on Tuesday, January 21.

(If they say I’m a liar, I challenge both of them: let’s face each other in public, eye-to-eye, so the people will know who’s lying. Let lighting strike whoever is lying.)

Aquino’s actions ‘impeachable’

According to Revilla, Aquino asked him to convict Corona. “Pare, parang awa mo na. Ibalato mo na sa akin ito. Kailangan siyang ma-impeach,” the President allegedly told him. (Friend, I appeal to you. Please give me this. He needs to be impeached.)

Revilla said that in the end, he voted guilty based on what he thought was right. He’s only bringing it up now because of concerns over Aquino’s power over other branches of government.

“Ang sa akin lang, ang pangamba na kung nagawa niya yon kay CJ Corona, ay maaaring magawa rin niya ito sa akin na makialam siya sa Ombudsman, sa Sandiganbayan,” said Revilla. (My worry is that if Aquino can do this to Corona, he can also meddle in the affairs of the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan.)

Revilla added that Aquino’s politicking could be grounds for impeachment but said that he was against it. “Kung palagi na lang tayong maiimpeach ng Pangulo parang wala nang katahimikan ang ating bansa niyan,” he said. (If we keep on impeaching our president, our country won’t find peace.)

‘Ask Jinggoy’

Revilla gave vague answers when asked if other senators were brought to the President during the impeachment. “Yung sinabi kong may pi-pickup-in pa si Boy Pick-up, tangunin niyo si Senator Jinggoy kung siya ang pinickup,” he said. (Ask Senator Jinggoy Estrada if he was picked up too.)

Estrada, Revilla, and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile all face charges for allegedly conspiring with supposed pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to steal millions of pesos from their Priority Development Assistance Fund.

On Tuesday, the President admitted he called 4 senators to a meeting to talk about Corona’s impeachment trial. He said it would have been “irresponsible” for him not to counter the pressure that pro-Corona groups were supposedly exerting on the senators.

Did the President promise a “reward” if they vote to convict Corona? There were no promises, said Revilla, adding: “Tanungin niyo nalang si Senator Jinggoy.” (Ask Senator Jinggoy.)

In an earlier speech, Estrada said current Senate President Franklin Drilon, who was then head of the Senate finance committee, facilitated the release of P50 million to each senator in exchange for Corona’s conviction.

Estrada clarified that it was not a bribe, but an “appeal.” – Bea Cupin/Rappler.com