Palace on Bong Revilla: Allies won't be spared

Allies and friends of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will not be spared in the fight against corruption, Malacañang maintained on Tuesday.

In an interview on Unang Balita, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked for comment on the surrender of former senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. over malversation charges in connection with a ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

''Sa Pangulo naman sabi niya kahit kaalyado, kaibigan, wala dapat sinisino so kung mayroong mga ebidensya, wala pong magagawa ang Pangulo diyan. Kung kailangan isampa, isasampa 'yan,'' Castro said. 

(The President said his allies and friends won't be spared. So if there's evidence, the President can't do anything about it. If cases need to be filed, they must be filed.)

She said the matter lies with the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and the courts.

Castro said it would be better if Revilla would prove his innocence if indeed he has no links with these anomalies.

''Kung walang kasalanan, kaya naman nila ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili, gawin na lamang po nila 'yan para maging malinaw at maging malinis din po ang kanilang pangalan sa mata ng taumbayan,'' Castro said. 

(If they are not at fault, they can defend themselves. Just defend themselves so their names will be cleared.)

In the 2025 senatorial polls, Revilla, chairman of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, ran under the Marcos-endorsed ''Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas.'' He, however, lost in the elections.

At a later press briefing, Castro said the statement of Revilla saying that there seemed to be no due process in his case was a normal sentiment of an accused individual.

''Hindi po ako spokesperson ni dating Senator Bong Revilla. Kung ano man po ang kanyang nararamdaman ay igagalang po natin. Pero in general 'yan po talaga ang magiging opinyon o damdamin ng isang naaakusahan at 'yan po rin ang kanyang magiging depensa para po mapakita sa taumbayan na siya ay walang kinalaman so it's just normal for an accused," she said.

(I'm not a spokesperson of former Senator Bong Revilla. We respect whatever his feelings are. But in general, that's the opinion or sentiment of anyone who's accused and that will be his defense as well to prove to the public that he is innocent.)

Warrant of arrest

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order on Monday against Revilla and six others who are facing malversation charges in connection with the P92.8 million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Revilla went to Camp Crame and surrendered to the police on Monday night. 

Former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez and former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr. Jaypee Mendoza, meanwhile, were arrested by National Bureau of Investigation operatives at the Senate. —AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News