Senator claims Aquino pleaded for help to convict Corona

Manila Times/Manila

Breaking his silence, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla yesterday detailed an alleged meeting with President Benigno Aquino, whom he accused of forcing him to vote for the conviction of then chief justice Renato Corona.

In a speech delivered at the resumption of the session after the Christmas and New Year break, Revilla warned that if the president was successful in his bid to convict Corona, “he could also influence the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan” in the plunder case filed against him and senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.

Revilla narrated that he was invited by Roxas, then secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications, to his house in Cubao, Quezon City early one morning.

He said Roxas, whom he called “Boy Pickup,” instructed him to go with him alone and board his black SUV car, whose plate number was removed and hidden in the sun visor, before proceeding to Bahay Pangarap, the residence of Aquino.

Revilla said Roxas instructed him to sit at the back of the vehicle, where he took some pictures (some of which he showed to the senate gallery), using his cellphone.

Upon reaching Bahay Pangarap, Revilla said Roxas was immediately recognised by the guards.

“Truth to tell, it was so weird to me that I felt compelled to take pictures,” he said.

He said it was the first time that he had entered Bahay Pangarap. After 15 minutes of waiting, Budget Secretary Florentino Abad arrived, followed by Aquino.

Revilla said while having their breakfast, Roxas explained why Corona should be impeached.

“My friend, do it for me as a favour. (Corona) must be impeached,” Aquino then supposedly begged Revilla.

He said after the meeting, Roxas brought him out of the Bahay Pangarap, but instead of taking him back to Cubao, he was dropped off at a nearby restaurant inside the Malacanang compound.

Corona was accused of failure to declare his assets and liabilities, a requirement to all public servants. As High Court justice, he could be removed only by impeachment, with the lower court acting as prosecutor and the senators acting as judges.

Corona was impeached by the Lower House on December 12, 2011; the Senate trial started on January 16 the following year and he was convicted on May 29.

He has also accused Aquino and his close allies of influencing the Supreme Court in declaring the pork barrel (the Disbursement Acceleration Programme) of the president legal and constitutional.

“Aren’t the justices afraid of being impeached? It was even rumoured that the DAP was used to railroad the impeachment. This is habit-forming,” he said.

Defending himself from the PDAF scam, Revilla denied that he signed public documents. He said it was Benhur Luy who was the expert in faking signatures, calling the latter as “Boy Pirma.”

He also denied the accusations of Luy that the PDAF commission was given to his alleged chief of staff, lawyer Richard Cambe.

Revilla said Cambe was never a chief of staff in his office, adding that the latter was not in the country when the alleged incident took place.

He also accused the Aquino administration of failure to ensure the promise of “Daang Matuwid” or straight path, citing the government’s lack of preparation before the onslaught of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

He said Aquino was helpless in the impending power crisis. He said after three years in Malacanang, the premier airport of the country is in dire need of reconstruction.

The people of Zamboanga has not yet recovered after the rebellion.

He said the impending fare hike in the MRT and LRT trains would only add to the misery of the public.

Smuggling is rampant and the increase in PhilHealth contributions only add up to the expenses of the poor workers.

Revilla also cited that despite the anti-corruption campaign, corruption had become worse as shown by the Social Weather Station survey, which showed 56% of the businessmen have experienced corruption.

He also lambasted Aquino for using his personal money in ensuring bail for Commission on Elections Commissioner Grace Padaca, who is facing a criminal case.

He also accused the government of more political pressure, particularly when 200 police officers circled his house in Bacoor City during the height of the 2013 elections. He also said the pressure started when he declined to support the candidate of the Liberal Party for Cavite governor.

He also said that even his political supporters were deliberately murdered.

He also cited the extortion charges against a sister of President Aquino. It may be recalled that an ambassador of the Czech Republic had allegedly accused the Aquino sibling of asking 30mn from Inekon, to ensure it would bag the contract.

The senator from Cavite said his family and children “have been vilified and demonised in the media” after he was accused of pocketing millions of pesos in the pork barrel scam instigated by businesswoman Janet Napoles and her minions, who allegedly defrauded the government of P10bn in Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) from 2004 to 2010.

Sen Pia Cayetano, who had voted for the conviction of Corona, said Revilla’s speech had some good points, but added that it was public knowledge that President Aquino was in a way campaigning for the conviction of Corona.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, a neophyte senator, said he was shocked by the revelations of Revilla, adding that any case should be decided in the proper court and not by political influence.

Sen. Serge Osmena said he will ask Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, to clarify if the incident really took place.

Rep. Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela party-list said Aquino and his allies should answer allegations made by Revilla Jr,  that the president personally pleaded with him to add his vote to convict Corona in 2012.

“It seems that the straight path is used as a road by vehicles of characters involved in corruption,” de Jesus said.

De Jesus noted that the revelations of irregularities surrounding the impeachment of officials rankles the people’s sense of justice given that the nation has just marked the 13th anniversary of the second Edsa uprising.