Bong Revilla (encircled) drops by the birthday celebration of fellow detained Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile on Valentine’s Day at Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–For allegedly allowing Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to party with fellow detainee Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, custodial officers of the Philippine National Police have been sacked after “bringing shame to the organization.”
This was announced by Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday, even showing a layout of the PNP General Hospital to prove as improbable the claim that the meeting between Revilla and Enrile was accidental.
“Nilabag ng ibang PNP official at iba pang kawanian ng HSS (Headquarters Support Service) ang mga patakaran sa detention at naghatid ng kahihiyan sa PNP,” Roxas said in a press briefing.
(These officials of the PNP and the HSS violated detention rules and brought shame to the PNP.)
Roxas said HSS head Chief Superintendent Alberto Supapo and duty officer Senior Inspector Celina Tapawan have been relieved of their posts as the PNP probes the incident.
Chief of the custodial security unit Superintendent Lobello Fabro, who gave permission for Revilla’s checkup, is under investigation.
Supapo will be replaced by Senior Superintendent Elmer Beltejar as HSS officer in charge.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will lead the investigation on the alleged special treatment of the detained senators who were jailed pending the plunder charges against them over their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.
“Because we are strictly implementing detention rules, we ordered the relief and investigation on the officers involved. We will file charges against these officers,” Roxas said in Filipino.
Last week, a photo of Revilla and Enrile together in the latter’s 91st birthday celebration at the PNP General Hospital was presented by government lawyers in one of the anti-graft court hearings on the pork barrel scam.
Holding the printed layout of the PNP hospital, Roxas explained that it was improbable that the two senators only met by accident.
In the illustration, it showed that the Emergency Room of the PNP GH was 85 meters away from the Specialty Ward where Enrile’s room was located. Before one could reach the Specialty Ward, he should pass through a parking area from the ER.
“Kitang-kita naman na walang kinalaman ang ER sa Specialty Ward… At hindi totoo na nagkita sila sa corridor or along the way,” Roxas said.
(It’s clear that the Specialty Ward cannot be accessed from the ER. And it’s not true that they met in the corridor or along the way.)
On February 14, Revilla approached Tapawan and complained of high blood pressure and migraine. He was checked at the ER around 4:27 p.m.
According to the Supapo, the senator was given medication and brought back to the PNP Custodial Center at 4:55 p.m. that day.
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