Bong Revilla allowed to visit sick father

Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. visits his ailing father Ramon Revilla, Sr. Photo from Office of Sen. Bong Revilla, Jr.

The Sandiganbayan first division granted the request of detained Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to visit his ailing father, former senator and actor Ramon Revilla Sr. in the hospital.

In a resolution Tuesday, the anti-graft court granted the motion of Revilla to visit his father for five hours, either on July 14 or 15, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Accused Revilla shall be transported from his detention from his detention cell at Camp Crame not earlier than one hour before the appointed time on either of the above dates, to St. Luke’s Medical Center, and shall leave the hospital not later than 8 p.m. of the same day, to be brought back immediately to his detention cell at Camp Crame,” the resolution read.

He is also barred from giving media interviews and his use of cell phones and the internet will be under the control of the detailed security provided by the Philippine National Police.

All expenses to be incurred by the PNP for the hospital visit will be shouldered by Revilla.

The prosecution opposed the furlough, saying the confinement of the Revilla patriarch was not an extraordinary situation.

Prosecutor Joefferson Toribio noted that the older Revilla’s health had improved since he was already transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a private room.

But the court led by Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz still granted the furlough for humanitarian reasons, while saying that Revilla should still be treated like an ordinary detainee.

The older Revilla was rushed to the St. Luke’s Medical Center at the Global City in Taguig City last Saturday due to “metabolic encephalopathy secondary to dehydration and aspiration pneumonia,” according to Cavite representative and Bong’s wife, Lani Mercado.

He was initially admitted in the hospital’s intensive care unit but has since been transferred to a private room.

In an urgent motion filed on Monday, Revilla asked the court for a five-hour furlough to visit his 88-year-old father.

READ: Bong Revilla to plead for furlough to visit ailing father | Bong Revilla wants five hours to visit ailing father

“Senator Revilla feels distraught and concerned about this unfortunate development involving former senator Revilla Sr. especially because of his present detention. He feels it is his obligation to come to the aid of his father, who is very close to him, even by his mere presence, and cannot disregard a son’s natural urge and desire to visit and be with his ailing and weak father, and spend a few moments together, to provide former Senator Revilla Sr. the needed assurance and support,” his motion read.

Revilla is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam. IDL/CB