Revilla seeks furlough to visit ailing father

Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. and Ramon Revilla, Sr. Photo from Office of Sen. Bong Revilla

Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to go out of detention to visit his ailing father Ramon Revilla Sr. as the ex-senator faces plunder over the alleged pork barrel scam.

In his urgent motion filed before the anti-graft court First Division, Revilla said he was withdrawing his earlier motion to spend Christmas with family in Bacoor City in Cavite province, and instead filed a motion to visit his father, who is under intensive care unit at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.

Revilla told the court his father was diagnosed with severe sepsis secondary to pneumonia.

“Senator Revilla 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,” Revilla said through his lawyers.

Revilla asked the court to allow him to visit his father for six hours from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Dec. 14 to 16, 2016.

Revilla recently lost his petition before the Supreme Court, which sustained the finding of probable cause for plunder against him.

READ: SC junks Bong Revilla plea to dismiss 200M plunder case 

Revilla surrendered and was detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in 2014 as he stood trial for plunder.

He is accused of pocketing P224.5 million in kickbacks from his pork barrel fund.

Also detained for plunder is Revilla’s colleague, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was denied bail while accused of pocketing P183.7-million kickbacks. Enrile, now out on bail, is accused of receiving P172.8-million kickbacks.

Their plunder and graft charges were filed  with the  Sandiganbayan by the Office of the Special Prosecutor in June 2014. Their trial is underway. TVJ/rga

READ: Bong Revilla visits ailing father at Taguig hospital