By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., charged with plunder and graft for his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, yesterday turned himself in to the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City.
Revilla, along with his family, arrived at the anti-graft court from his residence in Bacoor, Cavite, at 10:50 a.m. He offered prayers at the St. Michael Church in Bacoor before surrendering.
Also yesterday, the graft court issued a warrant of arrest against Janet Lim–Napoles, former National Agribusiness Corp. head Alan Javellana, Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, Technology Resource Center director-general Dennis Cunanan, Ronald John Lim and John Raymund De Asis.
It also ordered the arrest of 26 other individuals.
Revilla will be detained at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame, the Sandiganbayan said.
The anti-graft court’s first division, chaired by Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz, approved Revilla’s request that he be detained in Camp Crame and released a commitment order for the senator’s detention.
Revilla arrived in Camp Crame at about 1 p.m. and went straight to the PNP multipurpose center to undergo processing.
PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said Revilla underwent physical examination and had his fingerprints taken.
Malacañang welcomed the issuance of warrants of arrest against the accused.
Revilla’s arrest is a “significant step forward in the judicial process,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
“Through a fair and just trial, accountability will be clearly established [and] those that are innocent will be exonerated,” Coloma said.
Revilla yesterday said the pork barrel controversy has been a “torture” to him and his family.
He said he and his fellow lawmakers allegedly involved in the controversy have been criticized for their supposed wrongdoing for “almost a year.”
“Para kang sinasaksak ng sibat sa lalamunan na hindi ka mamatay-matay,” he was quoted as saying in an interview.
The senator from Cavite also had a chance to talk to his father, former senator Ramon Revilla Sr., before he left for Sandiganbayan. Revilla said his father told him to stay strong.
“Hindi daw ito ibibigay ng Panginoon kung hindi ko kaya,” Revilla said.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, accused of pocketing government funds with Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile, said his imminent arrest does not indicate that he is guilty.
Estrada said he can still perform his duties and responsibilities as senator even while in detention, “as long as we are not suspended.”
Enrile, for his part, believes the case against him is “weak” but said he plans to read a book about South African revolutionary leader Nelson Mandela while in detention. (With a report from abs-cbnnews.com/PN)
