Senator Revilla: PNoy Asked Me to Convict Corona

Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, in a privilege speech at the Senate on Monday, claimed that President Benigno Aquino III personally asked him to vote for the conviction of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.

The senator’s speech also includes denying his involvement in the controversial pork barrel scandal and lambasting Aquino’s administration. He denied stealing peoples’ money and said he earned his riches through his acting career.

Revilla also revealed DILG Mar Roxas, whom he called “Boy Pick-Up” and “driver”, drove him from Cubao in Quezon City to PNoy’s residence, Bahay Pangarap at the Malacañang complex, for a meeting to discuss Corona’s impeachment trial.

In his speech, Revilla asked “Tama po ba na habang nililitis ang dating Chief Justice na si Renato Corona ay kailangan makialam ang mismong Pangulo ng Republika sa isang prosesong legal na dapat ay independyente?”

Revilla also showed pictures of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas whom he said took his protocol license plate no.6 (cabinet secretary) from his vehicle on the day of their meeting with Aquino. Revilla, who voted to convict the chief justice, claimed Aquino told him over breakfast, “Pare, parang awa mo na. Ibalato mo na sa akin ito. Kailangan siya [Corona] ma-impeach.”

The senator, in the same speech, accused Aquino’s administration for using the alleged P10-billion pork barrel issue to cover up its failures.

Revilla enumerated Aquino’s failures including the slow response in Typhoon Yolanda’s aftermath and its failure to stop the increasing power rates.

“Gusto ko pong ipaabot sa mga minamahal nating mga kababayan na lahat ng ito ay isang palabas lamang ng gobyernong nabigong maglingkod nang totohanan sa publiko at nagkukunwaring may malasakit sa bayan gamit ang propagandang tuwid na daan,” Revilla said.

Meanwhile, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas admitted on Monday evening that he drove Senator Ramon Bong Revilla to a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang in 2012.

However, Roxas denied they discussed the impeachment trial of the former chief justice. Roxas also denied Revilla’s claim that he removed the protocol license plate from his car before entering the Malacañang complex. Roxas said he never used protocol plates.

In a statement Roxas said “Dati kaming magkasama ni Senator Bong sa Senado kaya nang iparating niya na mayroon siyang gustong i-take-up sa Pangulo kasama ang Cityhood ng Bacoor at ang kanyang pagiging pangulo ng Partido Lakas, gumawa ako ng paraan para magkausap sila.”

Roxas stated he understands why Revilla is angry against the Aquino administration, but scored that Revilla’s privilege speech did not help matters.

“Mahirap ang sitwasyon niya na may testigo at COA (Commission on Audit) documents nagapapatunay ng koneksyon niya sa Napoles scam. Pero hindi solusyon sa problema niya ang paglilihis ng isyu, pagbaluktot sa katotohanan at panloloko ng tao,” Roxas said.

Source: Gma News Online