Estrada, Revilla seeking extended visiting hours for New Year’s fete

Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, both detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, are asking for an extension of visiting hours for the New Year revelry next week.

Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, spokesperson for the PNP, said Revilla and Estrada had requested more time to spend with their loved ones visiting them on New Year’s Eve.

The request was for visitors of the two senators, both detained while being tried for their roles in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, to be allowed from 1 p.m. on Dec. 31, to 2 a.m. on Jan. 1.

“It was recommended by Chief Supt. Alberto Supapo, chief of the Headquarters Support Service (HSS), for approval by the PNP officer in charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina,” Mayor said.

The request has been forwarded to Espina’s office for action, he added.

The regular visiting hours at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

No extension

Earlier, the PNP said it won’t extend the visiting hours for Revilla and Estrada, and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who is detained at the PNP General Hospital also for his role in the pork barrel scam.

The three senators have been detained at Camp Crame since midyear, after the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against them in the antigraft court Sandiganbayan over the pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Napoles is detained in a police jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Mayor said the senators originally requested an extension of visiting hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

But the requests were filed only on Dec. 24, giving the PNP limited time to decide, he said.

“We received reports that some of the senators’ visitors extended their stay on Christmas Eve but they were told that the requests had not been acted upon, so they had to leave upon instruction of the HSS,” Mayor said.

Enrile also asked the HSS to allow the movie “Hari ng Tondo” to be shown at the PNP General Hospital’s special ward, where he is confined due to his advanced age.

Enrile, 90, is suffering from many ailments.