MANILA — Former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. submitted his counter-affidavit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to a plunder complaint filed against him, as his camp highlighted what it described as inconsistent allegations.

“Nagsubmit siya ng counter-affidavit o sinagot niya ‘yung reklamo na laban sa kanya,” said Revilla’s spokesperson, lawyer Francesca Señga, referring to his formal response to the complaint.

In a report, it said that the charges include plunder, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, receiving gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officers. Co-respondents in the case include former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara, former DPWH regional director Gerard Opulencia, and John/Jane Does.

Señga said Bernardo submitted six affidavits, but only two were included in the complaint, and that these contain conflicting information.

“Bakit? Kasi kung titignan niyo ‘yung mga affidavit na salaysay ni Usec. Bernardo, makikita ninyo na nag iiba-iba ‘yung kwento niya. Saan nag iiba-iba? Una, magkakaiba ‘yung mga petsa kung kailan ‘di umano binigyan ng pera o dinala ‘yung pera sa bahay ni Senator Bong,” Señga said.

She added that the alleged amounts and number of deliveries also vary across affidavits, and denied claims that Revilla met Bernardo, noting that he was attending a different event that day.

“Maraming taong nakakakita. Kaya imposibleng magkasama sila nung araw na ‘yun,” she said.

Señga also said that three of the four co-respondents are now part of the Witness Protection Program (WPP) and will no longer respond to the complaint, leaving only Revilla and one other respondent.

“Nakakapagtaka. Apat na respondents, tatlo nasa WPP. Isa lang matitira,” she said.

Revilla, escorted back to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas following the preliminary hearing, expressed frustration over the complaint.

“Hindi ko alam paano nakakatulog ‘yung mga nag akusa sa akin,” he said.

The DOJ is set to review the submitted counter-affidavit and assess the next steps in the case.