Bong Revilla to PNoy: Solve PHL’s problems after filing of ‘pork’ charges

(Updated 6:34 p.m.) Unlike in his first privilege speech where he attacked the administration, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. took a different tack for his privilege speech on Monday, thanking his colleagues, appealing for unity, and even ending with a song.

Revilla, who is being accused of pocketing the biggest kickbacks from the alleged pork barrel scam, also challenged President Benigno Aquino III to solve the country's problems now that plunder charges have been filed, and appealed for unity instead of political division.

Revilla even enumerated problems that the President should address before his term ends in 2016, including unemployment, poverty and criminality.

"Hindi tama at hindi maganda na maaalala ka at ang iyong administrasyon sa pagpapakulong lamang ng mga hindi mo kaalyado. Jailing your oppositors should not be the only achievement and legacy you will be leaving behind," Revilla appealed to Aquino.

Revilla further said that he will make it his personal mission to end partisan politics in the country.

"Adhikain ko po na sana mula ngayon, wala nang dilaw, wala nang orange, wala nang berde, wala nang asul, wala nang pula. Iisa lang ang dugong nananalaytay sa ating mga ugat, at yan ay dugong Pilipino," the embattled senator said.

 

On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman formally charged Revilla, along with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile, with plunder for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.  They were also charged with graft on Monday afternoon.

The three senators are being accused of receiving millions in kickbacks from their discretionary funds intended for poor farmers by funneling pork barrel allocations to fake foundations linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, who was also charged with plunder and graft.

Last January, Revilla delivered a privilege speech where he denied his alleged involvement in massive fraud, and belittled government's evidence against him. 

 

The senator also used his speech then to criticize Aquino for supposedly engaging in too much politicking. He even accused Aquino of personally working to oust former Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012. —KG/KBK/BM, GMA News