‘Compassion is important’: Revilla appeals to ease De Lima’s visitation restrictions

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said Sunday he will seek an appeal to the Philippine National Police to ease detained Sen. Leila de Lima’s visitation restrictions.

“I have been there. ‘Yung ang tanging hinihintay mo sa pagdating ng bukas ay makita ang mga bisita mo, magkaroon ng kausap, at ng human interaction maski papaano gaanong kalimitado man ito,” he said in a statement.

(The only thing you’re looking forward to when tomorrow comes is to see your visitors, to have someone to talk to, and to have human interaction no matter how limited it is.)

“Tapos, ipagkakait pa sa iyo. Hindi po biro ang mapag-isa sa selda,” he said.

(Then they take that away from you. It’s no joke when you’re isolated in a prison cell.)

Revilla was jailed in 2014 for plunder charges and was acquitted in 2018.

He said “compassion is very important in these trying times,” adding that he was “fully confident in the competence of the PNP Custodial Center in implementing social distancing and safety guidelines for visitors and detention prisoner.”

De Lima, who was been detained since Feb. 2017 for drug charges, earlier said she has not been allowed to accept visitors at Camp Crame in Quezon City for the past month and 11 days.

The PNP said this was part of its standard policy on visitation rights due to coronavirus restrictions.

De Lima, however, refused to acknowledge this.

“There is no rational basis for PNP authorities to insist on the so-called ‘standard’ policy, and follow the lead of other jails and correctional facilities that are also currently under total lockdown,” she said.

“As we keep on stressing, unlike in other jails, there is zero congestion and zero COVID-19 cases here. There are very few PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) in the facility. Hence, physical distancing is no problem at all. Besides, I am in an isolated detention quarters here. Alone,” she said.