Bong Revilla gets emotional at necrological service for Ramon Revilla Sr. at Senate

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. got emotional on Wednesday as he delivered his speech during the necrological service for his father former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. at the Senate Session Hall.

"Noong huli kang pumunta dito sa Senado, you were here to support me. 'Yung mga pagsubok na hinaharap ko during that time, Daddy as I told you, babangon. Lilinisin ko ang aking pangalan. I will prove to them na malinis," Revilla said in tears.

In December 2018, the younger Revilla was released from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center after being acquitted from plunder charges linked to the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

He was re-elected as senator in the 2019 elections with 14.6 million votes.

"And to you Daddy, salamat sa lahat, salamat. 'Di ko mararating ang kinalalagyan ko kundi dahil sa 'yo. Kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon na pumili ng ama, ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko maging Daddy. You are our hero," the senator said.

The Revilla patriarch fathered at least 72 children from 16 different women. 

Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during her eulogy speech, also said that Ramon Sr. was fortunate to have witnessed the comeback of his son in the Senate.

"Ngayon talagang tinawag na siya ng Panginoon. At least bago siya pumanaw nakita niyang malaya si Bong, nakita niyang bumalik si Bong sa Senado," Arroyo said.

"Nakita pa niyang naging congressman muli si Strike, naging city Mayor si Lani at si Andeng, at si Jolo naman nakita niyang kinakatawan ang papel ng pamilya Revilla sa kinabukasan ng Cavite," she added.

Senator Bong thanked his colleagues in the Senate and the friends of his father who participated in the virtual necrological service. 

"May kasabihan po na dalawang petsa lang ang maisusulat sa nitso. Pero ang pinakamahalaga ay 'yung dash sa pagitan. Today, we celebrate that dash between those two dates: March 8, 1927 and June 26, 2020," he said.

"After all, it is not the years in your life but the life in your years that count. Daddy lived 93 full years and the life he put in it was well beyond those years," he added.

Revilla Sr., a two-term senator from 1992 to 2004, died due to heart failure last Friday. —KG, GMA News