Revilla leaves detention to vote in Cavite

ROSARIO, Cavite—Accompanied by police escorts, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who has been detained for plunder charges since 2014, arrived in Cavite province early morning Monday to cast his vote in his hometown in Bacoor City.

With Revilla were members of his family, among them his wife, Bacoor Rep. Lani Mercado, and their son, Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla.

Mercado is running for city mayor, switching places with the senator’s brother, Strike, who is on his last term. Jolo, meanwhile, is seeking reelection. They are running under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

The Revillas were among the early birds at the Panapaan III Elementary School in Barangay Panapaan III.

Escorted by around 30 policemen and court sheriffs, Revilla arrived in Bacoor at 7:40 a.m.

Amelia Manzo, a member of the senator’s staff, said everything went “smoothly.”

After casting his vote, the senator was immediately escorted to a waiting van and was driven back to the Philippine National Police’s custodial center in Camp Crame in Quezon City. The court did not allow him to grant media interviews.

Revilla, an actor before he ventured into politics, surrendered to authorities in 2014 to face plunder charges in relation to the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.

The Sandiganbayan on Friday granted Revilla’s request to leave detention to vote.

Bacoor City, which has 275,511 voters (as of 2010), is a bailiwick of the Revillas and is among the vote-rich cities in Cavite.  SFM

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