Bong Revilla surrenders

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. surrendered to the Sandiganbayan Friday morning after being slapped with graft and plunder charges for alleged misuse of public funds.

“I am innocent of the charges. I am just a victim of dirty politics,” he said in an interview before his surrender.

It was a long journey to surrender for Revilla, who first made his name as an action star before turning his eye on politics.

On Friday, Revilla’s supporters in Cavite first prayed for the senator before his surrender.

Revilla and his family also stopped by a church in Bacoor before proceeding to the Sandiganbayan.

Revilla said he decided to surrender to the anti-graft court to spare his family the spectacle of his arrest. This is after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant Friday morning.

Revilla, a former governor of Cavite, is one of three opposition senators tagged in the so-called P10 billion pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by Janet Lim Napoles. He is accused of amassing P242 million from his priority development assistance funds.

The senator has denied the charges, saying he does not need to steal public funds.

“I can get the money from my own films. My movies are always number one or number two,” he said in an ANC interview.

He also blamed a syndicate in government that included officials of implementing agencies and the Commission on Audit for the scam.

Revilla, however, earlier admitted that the Revillas and the Napoleses know each other and sometimes meet in social gatherings.

Revilla said his son, Leonard Bryan Bautista, and one of Napoles’ children, James Christopher Napoles, met in high school and eventually became business partners.

The two sold imported rubber shoes under the PB & J Corporation.

Revilla said the business was legitimate.

In the interview, the senator criticized President Aquino for hitting his family and making him a target.

He said the President told Cavite voters during the last election not to believe in “anting-anting” (magic amulets), in possible reference to Revilla’s action roles where he wears amulets.

At that time, Revilla’s son, Jolo, was running for vice-governor against Jay Lacson, son of Panfilo Lacson.

Revilla said the persecution did not let up after his son won the election.

“Parang bangungot na para sa aming pamilya e…Para kang sinasaksak ng sibat sa lalamunan mo na di ka mamatay-matay tapos unti-unti kang tinatalupan,” he told ANC.