Bong Revilla refutes allegations of involvement in flood control scandal: 'I am an easy target'
Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. is shutting down accusations linking him to the government's anomalous flood control projects
In a statement on his Facebook account, Revilla addressed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure's recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman to file charges against him over the flood control projects in Bulacan.
"Ang naratibo na pilit nilang ikinakasa laban sa akin ay hindi lamang kasinungalingan, ito’y sadyang 'di kapani-paniwala," Revilla said.
"I am an easy target being used to muddle the truth, but the truth will always come out," he added.
The lawmaker insisted that his name is being used to stray away from the truth.
"Ngunit ang katotohanan, kailanman ay hindi matatakpan. I have lived my life facing all challenges thrown my way. Hindi ako tumakbo, hindi ako nagtago," he emphasized.
"Hindi ako umurong noon, hindi ako uurong ngayon. At dahil ang katotohanan ay nasa aking panig, haharapin ko ito nang buong tapang at paninindigan. Kasama kayo, nananalig akong sa huli, ang mga tunay na may sala ang mananagot—para sa hustisya at para sa bayan," he ended.
Revilla is just one of the many other officials reportedly involved in the flood control scandal.
Last Sept. 25, the actor-turned-politician was named by former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo as among those who allegedly received kickbacks from flood control projects.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation cases against Co as well as several officials of the DPWH and Sunwest Inc. on Nov. 18 in connection with anomalies in a P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. The charges involved malversation of public funds through the falsification of public documents, violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and a co-violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019.
In a press briefing last Dec. 3, ICI chairperson retired Justice Andres Reyes announced the commission's recommended charges of direct or indirect bribery, corruption, plunder, and administrative sanctions, among others, against Revilla, Manny Bulusan, Carleen Yap-Villa, Gerard Opulencia, Ruel Umali, Gene Ryan Altea, JY Dela Rosa, Mrs. Patron, Carlo Aguilar, and Maynard Ngu.
The commission has also recommended a further investigation, or "case buildup," against his co-senators—Chiz Escudero, Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, former DPWH secretary Mark Villar, and former senator Grace Poe—due to the "gravity of the allegations." This recommendation was forwarded to the Ombudsman.
Hearings at the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the ICI have revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption.