Revilla: Thought of arrest gives me goosebumps

MANILA, Philippines – The raffle of pork barrel scam cases at the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan gave Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr the chills, with his arrest likely just a matter of time.

The senator who created a stir for his controversial privilege speech said that while he is ready to be arrested anytime, he dreads the thought of being behind bars.

He and his bosom buddy, fellow actor-turned-politician Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said their only wish is for the justices to handle their cases with fairness.

“Unang reaksyon ko, kinikilabutan, kinakabahan kung ano ang mangyayari sa darating na oras. Pero ganoon pa man, nakahanda ako. Nakahanda tayo at buong loob nating haharapin itong mga darating na oras o araw kung kailan ito darating,” Revilla said in an interview over radio DZBB on Friday, June 13.

Earlier Friday, the Sandiganbayan raffled the cases of Revilla, Estrada and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile. Handling Revilla’s case is the 1^st division chaired by Justice Efren N. dela Cruz with members Rodolfo A. Ponferrada and Rafael R. Lagos.

The court said that it might take 10 days or more for the justices to study the plunder cases and issue an arrest warrant.

Revilla said that if he had his way, the warrant should be out soon.

“Mas gugustuhin ko pa ngang makulong na eh kasi parang ginagalit natin ang mga tao na may pinagtatakpan tayo o kung ano. Nasa labas man ako, para na rin akong nakakulong. Iyon ang pakiramdam na masakit pero siyempre ganoon eh. Ito kailangan nating harapin pero sabi ko nga, mananaig pa rin ang katotohanan.”

(I would prefer to be jailed immediately because it’s like we are angering the people through a cover-up or something. Even if I am free, I feel like am in jail. That is the painful feeling but that’s how things go. We need to face this and as I said, the truth will prevail.)

The senator added that he too wants to get to the bottom of the country’s biggest corruption scandal in recent history, reiterating his support for the creation of special court divisions to fast-track the trial.

“Iyon ang hangad ng bawat isa, magkaroon ng kalutasan ang problemang ito. Kailangang sugpuin ang problema sa corruption, pork barrel. Kung ano ang dapat mangyari, mangyari na. Managot ang dapat managot, [tamaan] ang dapat tamaan.”

(That is the wish of each one: to have a solution to this problem. We need to fight the problem of corruption, pork barrel. Whatever needs to happen should happen. Whoever needs to be held accountable, should be held accountable, no matter who gets hurt.)

Revilla, Estrada and Enrile were charged with plunder last week for allegedly conniving with scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to channel development funds for the poor to her bogus non-governmental organizations.

The Ombudsman said that Revilla got the biggest kickback worth P242 million, followed by Estrada with P183 million, and Enrile with P172 million.

Jinggoy: Acquittal certainty in fair trial

As for Estrada, his case was raffled off to the 5^th division headed by Justice Roland B. Jurado with Alexander G. Gesmundo. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Jurado.

In a separate DZBB interview, Estrada said it does not matter who appointed the justice heading the division.

He said the only justice he knows in the Sandiganbayan is Gregory Ong, who already inhibited himself from the raffle as his links to Napoles are under investigation. Estrada’s father, former President Joseph Estrada, appointed Ong to the court.

“I hope and pray that the Sandigan will dispose fair justice. They should be fair. If they are fair, in a fair play, I think I will be acquitted of all the charges,” said Estrada, who was acquitted in his first plunder case where he was accused of receiving payoffs from the illegal numbers game jueteng.

Estrada also joked about his preparations for his possible arrest. “I already cleaned the chocolates in my office. The rats might get to them. My house is so near [Camp] Crame. Why should I pack my bags?”

The senator reiterated that he will surrender once a warrant is issued.

Revilla to Aquino: Your sister in showbiz, too

Revilla could not help but take exception to the Independence Day speech of President Benigno Aquino III urging Filipinos not to vote for those who are  “good in reading scripts, great dancers or excellent singers.”

The senator said he felt alluded to, with his privilege speech featuring a much-derided music video. He said that the President should just name him outright instead of belittling celebrities. Revilla pointed to Aquino’s sister, TV host Kris Aquino.

“Baka nakakalimutan niya na ang kapatid niya ay may malaking naitulong sa kanya na nagmula rin sa show business, at ang mga sumuporta sa kanya mga singers, artists, kumbaga huwag niyang maliitin. Kung ako lang ang gusto niyang paturingan, diretsuhin niya ako, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Revilla said.

(He might be forgetting that his sister was instrumental in his campaign. She also hails from show business, along with other supporters who are singers, artists so he should not belittle these people. If he just wants to take a swipe at me, he should attack me directly.)

Revilla said he had two prepared speeches: one attacking the administration, and one thanking his supporters, and he chose to deliver the second one.

“Kasi pag nangbenggahan tayo nang nagbenggahan, ang maapektuhan hindi siya mismo eh kundi ang dapat niyang panilbihan, naming panilbihan, which is ang mamamayang Pilipino.”

(Because if we keep fighting, the ones who will be affected are the ones he, we should be fighting for, which is the Filipino people.)

Revilla said he is just taking things lightly.

“Ang aking awitin, iyan ang aking career para paglabas ko man ng kulungan ay may career pa akong babalikan.” (My song, that’s my career so when I get out of jail I still have a career to return to.) – Rappler.com