Court OKs Revilla’s hospital visit

Former senator Ramon Revilla Jr., arrives at the Sandiganbayan First Division court room and signed the pre-trial order, paving the way for the court to proceed with the full-blown trial for plunder of Revilla and the accused scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was granted leave by the Sandiganbayan to visit his ailing 90-year-old father next week but for a period shorter than he requested.

In a June 15 resolution, the antigraft court’s First Division allowed Revilla, who is on trial for plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam, to visit his father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

The first furlough is set on June 19 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. while the second is on June 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Revilla, in his urgent June 14 motion, originally wanted to visit his father on the first date from 6 a.m. to 12 noon, and on the second date, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In his motion, the former TV and movie actor said he was “deeply concerned about the medical condition” of the elder Revilla, who was scheduled to undergo a medical procedure for his heart ailment on June 19.

The court earlier granted Revilla’s requests to visit his father in December, February and March. He is being held at the detention center of the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In the resolution approved by First Division chair Justice Efren De La Cruz the court said Revilla would be transported from his detention cell no earlier than an hour before the appointed time.

The court said the Philippine National Police would have control and supervision over Revilla’s use of cell phones or any other electronic gadget for communication during the hospital visit.