“Truth will always prevail. God bless the Philippines” ang Facebook post noong Biyernes, Nobyembre 14, 2025, ng aktor at dating senador na si Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Na-post niya ito matapos basahin ni former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo ang sinumpaang salaysay nito sa pagpapatuloy na pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee tungkol sa mga anomalya sa mga proyekto ng flood control ng nabanggit na ahensya ng pamahalaan.
READ: Escudero, Revilla, Binay tagged in flood control controversy
Ang Facebook post ni Revilla ang pinaniniwalaang sagot nito sa mga isiniwalat ni Bernardo sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Magkumpare ang dalawa dahil inaanak nila sa binyag ang anak ng isa’t isa pero nagkaroon ng lamat ang kanilang pagkakaibigan dahil sa testimonya ni Bernardo na nag-uugnay kay Revilla sa pagtanggap ng pera o commitment mula sa bilyun-bilyong pisong pondo ng flood control projects ng DPWH.
HOW REVILLA AND BERNARDO BECAME FRIENDS
“We frequently meet in important social gatherings. Senator Revilla later on became a godparent to two of my daughters, while I became a godparent to one of his children,” salaysay ni Bernardo tungkol sa pagiging magkaibigan nila ni Revilla na nagsimula noong 2005.
“When Senator Revilla was incarcerated, I visited him several times at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame.
READ: Bong Revilla gets migraine after first few hours of stay in Camp Crame
“Because of our close relationship, Senator Revilla had asked me for assistance to several matters which I can no longer exactly recall at the moment because this happened a long time ago and I presently don’t have records to help me reconstruct the events.
READ: Senator Bong Revilla refuses to enter plea in plunder case at Sandiganbayan
GIVING REVILLA HIS 25% "COMMITMENT"
“Sometime in the third quarter of 2024, Senator Revilla and I met, where he asked me for a list of projects for funding ostensibly to help him in his national campaign.
“When Senator Revilla asked me about the percentage of the 'commitment,' I suggested either 20 or 25, to which Senator Revilla said '25 %.'
“Soon thereafter, also in the 3rd quarter of 2024, I asked then District Engineer Henry Alcantara to prepare a list of projects, which he subsequently gave to me.
“Moreover, still in the 3rd quarter of 2024, I also asked then District Engineer, but later Regional Director for NCR Engineer Gerard Opulencia, to prepare a list of projects which he subsequently gave to me.
“I have the list of projects totalling PHP1.5 billion submitted by Engineer Gerard, consolidated in one sheet of paper, and gave the same to Senator Ramon Revilla in the 3rd quarter of 2024,” pahayag ni Bernardo tungkol sa mga transaksyon nila noon ni Revilla.
Detalyadong inilahad ni Bernardo sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing ang kuwento ng pagpunta niya sa tahanan ni Revilla sa Bacoor City, Cavite, dahil siya ang personal na nagdala ng mga pera na nagkakahalaga ng PHP125 million na nakalagay sa anim na carton boxes.
“The White House compound is the ancestral home of the Revillas, with a large blue gate entrance at the time.
“Sometime in the last quarter of 2024, Engineer Alcantara collected the 25% commitment of about PHP125 million and informed me that the same was ready for turnover to Engineer Opulencia.
“Engineer Gerard Opulencia told me that the 25% commitment was already loaded in my vehicle.
“After receipt of the 25% commitment, which were packed in six carton boxes, each containing PHP20 million and one paper bag containing PHP5 million, I called up Senator Revilla to inform him the same is ready to be turned over to him.
“Sometime, December 2024, probably the Monday after my receipt of the commitment, my driver and I went to the residence of Senator Revilla.
“Upon reaching the area, I tried calling Senator Revilla, but he was not answering my call, so I waited. After waiting for approximately one hour at the nearby gasoline station, we were finally allowed inside the compound by the guard.
“Once inside, we parked the vehicle and shortly upon alighting, I saw Senator Revilla at the terrace.
“I walked over to Senator Revilla for a casual talk. While the boxes were being unloaded, Senator Revilla and I talked for about 20 to 25 minutes.
“I asked him, 'Sen,bakit hindi ka nangangampanya?’
“Senator Bong replied, ‘Okay naman, pare, maganda result ng survey. Relax muna.’
“The personnel of Senator Revilla helped in unloading the boxes. After the delivery of the commitment, I headed back to Manila.”
Bahagi ng sinumpaang salaysay ni Bernardo ang muling pagpapadala niya kay Revilla ng PHP250 million commitment noong first quarter ng 2025 para sa diumano’y kampanya ng re-electionist senator.
“Sometime late January or February 2025, in relation to the list of projects submitted by Engineer Gerard Opulencia, Senator Revilla called me to follow up on the status of the commitment.
“About a week later, sometime February 2025, I informed Senator Revilla that the same was ready for turnover.
“Before the start of the campaign period for national elective positions, I directed one of my aides to deliver the commitment amounting to PHP250 million to the residence of Senator Revilla at the White House compound, Aguinaldo Highway, Bacoor, Cavite.”
BONG REVILLA'S LAWYER RELEASES STATEMENT
Naglabas ng pahayag ang official spokesperson at legal counsel ni Revilla na si Atty. Maria Carissa Guinto tungkol sa mga isiniwalat ni Bernardo sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing at ito ang bahagi ng reaksyon nila ng kanyang kliyente.
“Engr. Bernardo’s testimony should be taken with a grain of salt. There is an inherent danger in giving credence to the allegations of someone who has long undermined the law.
"Allowing a perpetrator to recast himself as a truth-teller does not strengthen our justice system; it compromises it. It sends a message that one can commit crimes, betray the public trust, and later manipulate the legal process in exchange for immunity or favor.
“This development is disappointing but not surprising. Once again, Mr. Revilla is being subjected to political persecution by forces harboring ill will against him. He categorically denies all the allegations against him.
"These are outright fabrications intended to malign his reputation and to divert the attention of the public from the real culprits.
“Mr. Revilla will answer these accusations in the proper forum, where the truth is established through evidence rather than a persecution by publicity.
“Mr.Revilla is fully prepared to face and disprove the allegations against him. He likewise intends to pursue all available remedies to protect his rights under the law, and to ensure that his name will once again be cleared of all baseless and malicious claim against him.”
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