Bong Revilla court appearance forces PNP to extend visiting hours

Philippine Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., a popular actor accused of receiving 224 million pesos ($5.1 million) in kickbacks from a scam that allegedly diverted millions of dollars from anti-poverty and development funds allotted to lawmakers’ pet projects, waves to reporters after attending his arraignment at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Revilla, one of three Philippine senators accused of plunder, has refused to enter a plea during arraignment by the anti-graft court in the biggest corruption trial in the country in more than a decade. He is currently being held in custody in a detention facility at the Philippine National Police headquarters. AP

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has allowed the visitors of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to extend beyond the regular visiting hours, but on Thursday only.

This was to make up for time Revilla lost for his loved ones during his arraignment at the Sandiganbayan on Thursday morning.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, said in a press briefing at Camp Crame that Revilla’s visitors will be allowed to stay three hours longer in his detention room.

The visiting days of the PNP Custodial Center for Revilla and fellow senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada are from Thursdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Revilla’s visitors will be allowed to extend until 7 p.m.

“This is for them to make up for time lost. But this is only for today (Thursday),” Sindac said.

Earlier, Revilla left Camp Crame with his staff and cellmate Richard Cambe to enter their pleas at the anti-graft court.

They left the Custodial Center at exactly 7‎:23 a.m. and was admitted back to jail at 12:45 p.m.

“Kapag ikaw nawalan ng liberty, every minute, every second is important,” Sindac said, adding that Revilla currently has 21 visitors.

The extension, however, will not be given to Estrada’s visitors.

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