FATHER CONSOLES SON With the Sandiganbayan’s approval, detained Sen. Bong Revilla visits his son, Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla, who suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the chest, at Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City. Behind is Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado- Revilla, mother of the vice governor. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Citing the “extraordinary” nature of the situation, the Sandiganbayan has allowed detained Sen. Bong Revilla to visit his injured son, Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla in the hospital on Wednesday.
Under heavy guard, Revilla boarded a white van at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center and headed for the Asian Hospital and Medical Center where his son is recovering from an allegedly self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The senator’s van was escorted by five police patrol vehicles and two policemen on motorbikes during the long drive to Muntinlupa City.
The antigraft court’s First Division, which is trying Revilla for plunder in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam, gave the senator a five-hour furlough, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Unusual situation
“Due to the urgent nature and as acknowledged by the prosecution, it’s an unusual, emergency and extraordinary situation, the court will authorize Senator Revilla to visit his son, with all the usual conditions, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.,” the division chair, Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz, declared in court.
The younger Revilla reportedly shot himself in the chest last Saturday, although it was not established whether he did so deliberately or accidentally.
As soon as the courts opened on Monday, Revilla, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame, filed a petition for a three-hour furlough to visit his son.
The Sandiganbayan First Division set a hearing for the following day, Tuesday.
“We’re pleading for mercy of this honorable court, for compassion, to allow the father to visit his son. That’s all there is to it,” Revilla’s lawyer, Ramon Esguerra, told the court.
The prosecution panel did not object, saying it would leave the decision up to the court.
The three division justices—Chair Efren de la Cruz and members Rafael Lagos and Rodolfo Ponferrada—asked a number of questions on the younger Revilla’s condition and hospital visitation rules after Revilla’s lawyer Ramon Esguerra begged for “mercy and compassion.”
No other places
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said Revilla’s security escorts on Tuesday came from the Headquarters Support Service, the Highway Patrol Group, the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) Regional Public Safety Battalion and the Muntinlupa City police station.
An ambulance complete with medical personnel from the PNP health service was also part of the convoy.
“We are not allowed and we will not bring him to other places specified by the Sandiganbayan other than the Asian Hospital,” Cerbo told a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Cerbo said the PNP will ensure the senator’s return to the custodial center as soon as his visiting hours are over.
He said the PNP would continue with the investigation of the younger Revilla’s shooting, even as the Revilla family claimed that it was accidental.
Cerbo said the NCRPO and the investigators were coordinating with the family.
“Given the sensitive nature of incident, of course the priority is the vice governor’s recovery, but we will not neglect the investigation of this incident. This will be investigated properly,” he said.
The younger Revilla allegedly shot himself while cleaning his gun, a Glock .40-cal. pistol, on Saturday.
Waiting for investigation
The PNP said licensed gun owners are made to undergo seminars on gun safety before they are granted permits to own guns, but declined to speak specifically on the Revilla incident.
“Let us wait for the investigation of the task group. As of now, we do not know the circumstances yet, and Jolo’s condition is very sensitive, serious,” Cerbo said.
The PNP has yet to speak to Jolo about the incident as they are waiting for him to recover from his injuries, while the pistol in question has not yet been turned over to the police.