Bong: Sinurrender ko na sa Lord ang lahat

MANILA -- A tearful Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. announced to showbiz media friends in a post-New Year gathering that he will finally give his side in the pork barrel controversy in a forthcoming privilege speech at the Senate.

Revilla, who came with his wife Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado, said he and his family are now devoting more time to Bible studies after he was implicated in the pork barrel scam.

"Sinurrender ko na sa Lord ang lahat. The truth will set us free. Lugmok kami pero babangon ako!" Revilla said.

Revilla is one of the three senators facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman over the anomaly.

Revilla, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and others accused allegedly conspired with Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the scam, and other government officials in funneling billions of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) the businesswoman allegedly set up.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier said Revilla accumulated the biggest kickback amounting to P224.5 million.

The senator, for his part, admitted that the Revillas and the Napoleses know each other and sometimes meet in social gatherings, but denied any involvement in the scam, saying "I am not a thief."