Bong Revilla defends son's business link with Napoles child

Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. on Thursday defended the business partnership of his son, Bryan, with the child of Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the alleged “pork barrel” scam.

In a statement, Revilla said his son’s rubber shoes business with the younger Napoles is “legal and legitimate,” adding that the two have known each other since high school.

“It is unfortunate that a legal undertaking between associates is being tainted with malice,” Revilla said.

On Wednesday, a report on online news site Rappler came out linking the senator’s son to Napoles’ son, James Christopher Napoles.

The elder Revilla was among the senators who allegedly benefited financially from the scam, although he has denied this and called the accusation a demolition job against the opposition.

Napoles is being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation for her alleged involvement in the supposed anomaly, which reportedly uses some lawmakers’ “pork barrel” for bogus projects. She has been ordered arrested by a Makati court on a separate case of serious illegal detention.

In the same statement, Revilla admitted that he has seen Napoles “occasionally in certain social gatherings,” but said he has not interacted with her.

The lawmaker also told the media not to involve his son in the “pork barrel” controversy.

“I think that this malicious story is another attempt by some sectors to malign us. Kung gusto akong sirain, ako na lang. ‘Wag na sanang idamay ang anak ko,” Revilla said. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News