MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Friday surrendered to the Sandiganbayan which ordered his arrest for his involvement in the pork barrel scam.
Revilla's convoy arrived at the Sandiganbayan at 10:48 a.m. The senator and his lawyers were then escorted to the sheriff's office of the anti-graft court.
Policemen barricaded the hall leading to the sheriff's office. Two glass cases of fire extingusiher were shattered as Revilla's escorts and media personnel walked by.
Earlier today, Revilla thanked his supporters before he left his home in Cavite with his family.
"Huwag po kayong mag-alala. Hindi naman po ako mawawala. Nandito pa rin ako at babangon po tayo," Revilla said
"Maaaring makulong nila si Bong Revilla ngunit hindi nila makukulong ang pagmamahal ko sa inyong lahat," he added.
The court issued the arrest warrant against him and 31 others charged with plunder and graft including businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind.
Revilla has been charged for supposedly amassing P242 million in kickbacks from his pork barrel funds coursed to bogus foundations of Napoles.
On Thursday, the Sandiganbayan denied Revilla's petition to suspend hearings on the plunder case.
Revilla maintained his innocence and that he is prepared to end up behind bars, but he promised his supporters that he would fight hard to clear his name.
"I am ready to face this. The day will come when truth will come out. I am ready to go to jail even if I did nothing wrong," Revilla told the media on Thursday.
He said the only thing that he is asking is to be given the opportunity to defend himself in court.
"To many of you I appeal that you don’t judge us yet," Revilla said.
"To the Aquino administration: Mr. President, I'm ready to go wherever you want me jailed. I believe I did nothing wrong and I am not afraid, Mr. President," Revilla said. -Dennis Carcamo and Louis Bacani