Prosecutors say Revilla came to Enrile’s party

MANILA, Philippines–Did “Pogi” party with “Tanda” on Valentine’s Day?

State prosecutors are claiming that detained Sen. Bong Revilla attended the birthday party on Feb. 14 of another detained lawmaker, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, at the Philippine National Police General Hospital at Camp Crame without the permission of the court trying his plunder case.

In an opposition to Revilla’s request for medical tests, the prosecution urged the Sandiganbayan to immediately transfer the senator to a regular jail facility managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

In support of its motion, the prosecution submitted to the antigraft court’s First Division two photos showing the two senators sharing a table during Enrile’s 91st birthday celebration in one of the police hospital’s rooms.

The Ombudsman prosecutors also attached a printed copy of an article written and posted on the Internet by Milwida Guevara, a former finance undersecretary, who claimed to have seen Revilla at the party.

“If this information recently received by the prosecution is accurate, it confirms and validates prior reports that accused Revilla is being accorded special privileges while in detention at the PNP Custodial (Center),” they said in the motion filed last Friday.

Whistleblowers have alleged that Revilla was identified in the records of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles as “Pogi” (handsome) while Enrile was known as “Tanda” (old man).

Commotion

In her article, Guevara said there was “a bit of commotion” at Enrile’s party when Revilla arrived. She said that Revilla was “only allowed to stay for a few minutes.”

“A temporary reprieve must have been granted to enable Senator Revilla to wish ‘Manong’ (Enrile) many happy returns of the day,” Guevara wrote.

Revilla, who was wearing a white shirt, and several other men, including his son, Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla, were seen in the pictures seated around a table with Enrile.

A policeman in uniform and another man wearing a checkered shirt occupied an adjacent table where the person who took the photographs was also seated.

Bosom buddy

Along with his bosom buddy, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Revilla has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center since the antigraft court ordered their arrest in June last year following their indictment for graft and plunder in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

The detention facility is a few meters from the police hospital where Enrile is detained for the same offense.

In its motion, the prosecution reiterated that the court succinctly ordered the PNP to “keep (Revilla) in its custody… and not allow the accused to be moved, removed or relocated until further orders from the court.”

The prosecution also asked the court to resolve its pending motion seeking to overturn the court’s Sept. 4, 2014, ruling which allowed Revilla to be detained at the police detention facility.

In opposing Revilla’s request for a medical exam, the state prosecutors argued that the medical certificate issued by Dr. Francisco Agudon, which the senator submitted with his motion, should be set aside by the court since it was not notarized.

Mere impression

Besides, the prosecution said, Agudon’s opinion on Revilla’s condition was “a mere impression and is not based on any diagnostic examination.”

“There is nothing in Revilla’s motion or in the medical certificate… which indicates that he has undergone any examination to prove that he is indeed suffering from this ailment,” it said.

The prosecution argued that the senator should be examined by government doctors, “otherwise, there can be no factual basis for the honorable court to consider and evaluate the merits or veracity” of his claims that he needed medical therapy.