PNoy: Meeting with Bong was to lessen pressure on him

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said he just wanted to lessen the pressure on Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. when he and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas met with the senator before the final vote on the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. Speaking to reporters after attending the anniversary event of the Insurance Commission, Aquino said he just wanted to ensure that Revilla and the other senators would decide on the merits of the case, noting that there were reports of pressure from influence groups during the impeachment trial. "What I was trying to do was basically ensure that they decide on the case on the merits of the case rather than any other outside factor. I was trying to lessen the pressure on all of them," he said. The President also explained why it was Roxas who facilitated the meeting. "Yung dynamics nung nasa Senado kami, mas diplomatic si Senator Roxas, mas nakakausap niya yung mga never kong naka-partido, never kong nakasama sa kahit anong alyansa... So kung minsan baka mas madali na siya na lang kausapin rather than ako kausapin dahil baka mas mahaba pinagsamahan nila, baka mas vibes sila kesa sakin. So Secretary Roxas facilitated parang a more convivial atmosphere rather than sakin na automatic parang formal," Aquino said. ANC, January 21, 2014