Sandiganbayan allows Bong Revilla to visit ailing father in hospital

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

The Sandiganbayan has allowed detained former Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. to visit his ailing father at St. Luke’s Medical Center on Friday afternoon.

In a two-page order, the antigraft court’s First Division gave Revilla six hours to visit former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The court ordered Revilla to shoulder all the expenses incurred by the Philippine National Police “for the personal escorts and security measures in all movements and dispositions of the accused outside Camp Crame until his return to the detention facility.”

The court only allowed the security detail to transport Revilla to the Bonifacio Global City hospital not earlier than one hour before his appointed time. It also directed the police escorts to bring Revilla out of the hospital before 8 p.m.

The court also placed under the security detail’s control and supervision the use of communication gadgets by Revilla and those who accompanied him.

It also instructed that no media interviews be allowed.

Revilla earlier told the court that his father has been diagnosed with severe sepsis secondary to pneumonia, a serious form of blood poisoning.

“Senator Revilla feels that 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.