MANILA - Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Monday said he felt vindication after he was elected in the May polls despite the corruption charges against him.

“Sabi ko nga, parang iba ang pakiramdam. I feel vindicated. Nag-flashback sa akin mga nangyari. Lahat ito ay may purpose kung bakit nangyari sa buhay ko ito, why I’m back again [in the Senate],” Revilla told reporters ahead of the opening of the first session of the 18th Congress.

(This feels different. I feel vindicated. Some memories flashed back. Everything has a purpose, including what happened to my life and why I’m back again in the Senate.)

Revilla succeeded in his Senate comeback, garnering more than 14.5 million votes to place 11th in the midterm polls.

He won a seat months after the Sandiganbayan acquitted him of embezzling P224 million in discretionary funds in his previous stint as senator.

Revilla, who was detained for 4 years before he was released in December, is still facing graft charges and is out on bail.

Revilla said he was no longer harboring any “bitterness” towards his accuser and promised to perform well in his Senate comeback, filing 100 bills ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress.

“Kailangan mag-move on tayo. Hindi tayo bumabalik dito, as I said before, para maghiganti,” Revilla said.

“Iyung pangako natin na magta-trabaho tayo, ito simula na. Umasa kayo na si Bong Revilla, magpe-perform.”

(We have to move on. I am not vengeful. Our promise to work has started. I assure you that Bong Revilla will perform.)

Revilla was first elected as senator in 2004, banking on the legacy of his father, former senator Ramon Revilla Sr., and his experience as Cavite vice governor and governor. He succeeded in his reelection bid in 2010, only to be detained in 2014 due to the pork barrel scam case.