Amid ‘Special Treatment’ Claims, DILG Chief Jonvic Remulla Defends Gesture to Friend Former Sen. Bong Revilla
DILG CHIEF
– Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla spoke on his gesture of accompanying former Senator Bong Revilla to Sandiganbayan amid “special treatment” claims.
Sandiganbayan Third Division ruled that former Sen. Bong Revilla will be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas
. The court decision came after the former Senator voluntarily surrendered to the government authorities upon learning that an arrest warrant was issued against him.
📸: The Philippine Star
Revilla is allegedly involved in a multi-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. The Senator maintained his innocence amid the accusations against him. According to DILG chief Jonvic Remulla, it was really Revilla who called him and informed him about his decision to voluntarily surrender to the authorities.
Former Sen.
Bong Revilla admitted that his arrest is very painful to him and his family and he asked for prayers
from the public. According to him, he knows that God will not forsake him as he has allegedly not done anything wrong. He was accompanied by his wife, Cavite Congresswoman Lani Mercado, and DILG Chief Jonvic Remulla to the Sandiganbayan.
DILG asserted that there will be no special treatment for former Sen. Bong Revilla
. However, after Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla accompanied him to the Sandiganbayan, there were accusations that the former Senator is allegedly receiving a VIP treatment. Remulla reacted to the claims.
DILG Chief Jonvic Remulla stressed that he did not keep his friendship with former Sen. Bong Revilla a secret. According to him, he already explained that there is the law and he needs to do his job.
“Accused pa lang siya ‘di ba? Hindi pa siya arraigned at hindi ko naman tinago sa inyo na kaibigan ko talaga siya. Pero ipinaliwanag ko rin sa inyo na the law is the law, there are no special favors, I have to do my job so sabi ko ako na maghahatid sa ‘yo,”
Remulla said.
According to the DILG Chief, he left after former Sen. Bong Revilla was turned over to the authorities and he did not even wait for his commitment order. He stressed that he left as the people might think that he’s there to manipulate things.
“Si Sen. Bong naman, voluntarily nag-surrender at pagdating na doon, that’s the end, ayun na ‘yung may last act of friendship para sa kanya na ihatid siya doon,”
the DILG Secretary said.
Amid the ongoing call for accountability, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI confirmed that their work is nearing completion. Based on a
report
on PhilStar, ICI special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. claimed that all cases referred to them “are nearing completion” and they will act on it as soon as possible.
Amid the detention of her husband, Cavite Cong.
Lani Mercado appealed for due process over the case against former Sen. Bong Revilla