An hour before the arraignment of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Thursday morning, his supporters gathered near the Sandiganbayan to insist on his innocence in the pork barrel scam.
At least 50 Cavite residents, mostly from Bacoor where the Revillas hail, arrived at Sandiganbayan around 7 a.m.
“Not guilty si Sen Bong. Wala kaming nalalaman na ginawa niyang kasalanan,” Gemma Vinzon Tonggo told reporters.
She said they were not able to bring any placard because they learned of the arraignment only Wednesday night.
“Ipaglalaban namin ang katotohanan. Mabait si Sen. Bong dahil marami siyang scholars, maraming pinagawang kalsada at madaling lapitan,” Elsie Diwata said.
Rep. Lani Mercado, wife of Revilla, saw the supporters outside the Sandiganbayan when she arrived and thanked them through a text message sent to one of them.
“Salamat, Kokoy, kita ko kayo. TY sa support,” she said in a text message to Kokoy Gozun.
The senator is also facing 16 counts of graft.
