Sen. Bong Revilla having his mugshot taken at Camp Crame. Photo courtesy of PNP
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday that it will ask the court to amend the commitment order directing the police to detain Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. at its Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) unit.
This was after Sandiganbayan’s First Division ordered Revilla to be detained at PNP-CIDG unit and not at the PNP Custodial Center. Both offices are in Camp Crame.
“The CIDG is definitely not prepared to accommodate the Senator in their premises so from there, we would transfer him first to the Custodial Center,” Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief, told reporters.
The PNP has anticipated that Revilla and fellow Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada will be jailed at the Custodial Center where a newly-constructed compound awaits the high-profile detainees.
But the police denies that the one-hectare compound was intended for the lawmakers facing plunder and graft charges, saying that it was built for the Custodial Service Unit officer and that these officers would only give way to the jailed senators for the meantime.
“But we will abide by the spirit of the court. Only the physical premises (of the Custodial Center) will be borrowed but CIDG personnel would secure Revilla,” Sinda explained.
He said there had already been coordination with the PNP and the anti-graft court regarding the amendments on the order.
“We expect to get the amendment by 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.,” he added.
While waiting for the court to respond, Revilla will be staying at the Custodial Center.
Accompanying Revilla were his immediate family members including wife Representative Lani Mercado, sons Cavite Vice Governor Jolo and Bryan, daughter Inah, brother Strike Revilla and close friend and actor Phillip Salvador.
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