MANILA – Senator Bong Revilla finally broke his silence over the “pork” barrel scam on Monday, saying he had no involvement in the P10 billion scam.
Social media users immediately reacted online, making it a hot topic on both Twitter and Facebook.
On Monday, January 20, TV Patrol asked Netizens what they think of Revilla’s speech. A flood of reactions made #patrolpork trend on Twitter.
Many questioned why Revilla took so long to open up about the scam if he is really innocent of the charges.
Others made a mockery of his being an actor, adding that he was only putting up a show in front of the camera.
Ronald Gonzaga said Revilla appeared more like an actor and not as a senator who is facing possible plunder charges.
“… and Sen. Revilla wins the award for the Best Actor category! ... The Aquino administration may also have some explaining to do on certain things [but] spotlight's on you right now. So, be a senator and do what it is that you have to do.”
Another user, Jaren Cagaanan, said Revilla should have stayed with the topic instead of putting the blame on other parties.
“Kung di sya kasabwat? Dapat ba talagang manira ng ibang tao para lang maprove na not guilty sya?"
Christine Lu compared the privilege speech to Janet Napoles’ testaments, both revealing nothing new to the public.
“Another waste of time, just like when Napoles pledged to tell the whole truth but ended up with nonsense answers!”
Ulquiorra Cifer said Filipinos will only know the truth if Revilla, or any of the involved parties in the “pork” barrel scam, is proven guilty.
“Sino ba naman ang aamin hangga’t di napatunayan na may sala? Inosente nga raw until proven guilty…”
Taking the opposite route is Naguit Angelina, who said that people should not be quick to judge and should wait for the truth to unfold itself.
“First of all, we don’t have [the] right to judge him ‘cause we don’t know the true story… so only God knows what will happen to those kind of people.”
Over on Twitter, Patricia Solis (@IamNowTrishTS) said that Revilla tried to divert the issue by focusing on his meeting with President Aquino and Secretary Mar Roxas during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Similarly, LloydG (@maximumwarp) said that Revilla should have used the time given him to clear his name. Instead, the speech became too political in nature.
Arianne Baguio (@ariannebags) believes the arguments were persuasive, but still was not fully convinced.
When Revilla presented a yellow truck loaded with documents as a way to express “truck of evidence”, netizens were taken aback by the literal interpretation.
Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) reacts by recalling Benhur Luy’s previous claim under oath that all evidence available were shredded.
Although the comments and opinions of social media users focused on issues of ridicule and doubt, a lot of Filipinos continued to keep in tune to finish what Revilla had to say in his privilege speech.
Fred Lozano (@fredglozanojr) said there are other things that the government should focus on. He claims that Revilla didn't add anything new to his defense.