Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. at the 1st Annual Inaugural Filipino American Visionary Awards – Arrivals held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA. The event took place on Friday, March 7, 2008. Photo by: Sthanlee B. Mirador
MANILA, June 12 (Mabuhay) — “Sorry if I didn’t please you.”
This was Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.’s message to Filipinos who criticized on the Internet his privilege speech and audio-visual presentation at the Senate last Monday.
In an interview on Wednesday, Revilla said he delivered a speech and sang an original song just to thank his supporters as he faces plunder charges and impending arrest in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.
“Sinabi ko kung ano ang nasa puso ko, iyong pasasalamat sa sambayanang Pilipino, at iyon naman ang pinakamahalaga. Alam naman natin ang patutunguhan nito,” Revilla told reporters.
“Kung mayroon man akong hindi napaligaya sa aking privilege speech, tayo ay humihingi na paumanhin sa kanila. Iyong awitin na iyon ay hinandog ko sa 20 milyong katao na sumuporta sa akin,” he added.
Revilla, in his speech on Monday, said he is ready to face arrest and detention. He also dared President Benigno Aquino III to solve start solving the country’s problems after going after those allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam.
Before ending his speech, Revilla showed an audio-visual presentation, which used his original song entitled “Salamat Kaibigan.”
‘I am a good sport’
On Tuesday, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Malacañang agrees with the “overwhelming” negative reaction towards Revilla’s speech.
According to an informal survey done by Malacañang’s new media team on social media sites and news websites, 99.93 percent of comments from 2,751 respondents were against the senator while 0.07 percent were for him.
Revilla, however, said he does not mind these negative reactions.
“Naintidihan ko po kayo. Okay lang po iyon sa akin. I am a good sport,” the senator said.
Revilla is facing plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly pocketing the biggest kickbacks from the alleged pork barrel scam.
Also facing plunder charges are Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile, as well as alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. (MNS)