MANILA — The on Tuesday granted the urgent motion of detained former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. for furlough to be with his ailing father when the latter undergoes surgery.
The Sandiganbayan First Division allowed Revilla to visit his father former Senator Ramon Revilla, Sr. on Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Sandiganbayan cited humanitarian considerations and lack of objection from the prosecution in granting Revilla’s urgent motion.
Revilla, Jr. faces the non-bailable offense of plunder for allegedly receiving millions in “kickbacks” from businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, whose fake non-government organizations (NGOs) were allotted proceeds of the PDAF of the former lawmaker.
The former young senator has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since 2014 for plunder in connection with his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.
In granting Revilla’s urgent motion, the Sandiganbayan set some conditions to mee, which include Revila should be transported only to and from the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City and that the PNP, in coordination with the Court’s Sheriffs, should provide security measures to the former senator in all his movements.
In his urgent motion, Revilla asked the Sandiganbayan First Division to allow him to be with his father on Feb. 8, 2017 from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Revilla also asked for furlough to visit his father on Feb. 9, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
He told the Sandiganbayan that his 82-year-old father Ramon, Sr. had been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and was set to undergo trans-arterial aortic valve replacement.
The surgery will be on Feb. 8, 2017 at 9 a.m. with the preparation to start at 7:30 a.m on the same day.
Revilla said that he felt it his obligation to be at his father’s side to provide assurance and support.
He added that his father requested that he be at his side during the surgery.
“Deeply worried and concerned about this recent unfortunate development, Senator Revilla again respectfully implores this Honorable Court’s kind consideration and compassion that he be allowed to visit, and be with his ailing and weak father while he is undergoing this major surgery,” Revilla said through his lawyers.
The Sandiganbayan has earlier granted Revilla’s request to visit his father, who is at the intensive care unit of St. Luke’s in Bonifacio Global City.
Revilla told the Sandiganbayan that his father was again rushed to the hospital on Jan. 20, 2017 due to coronary heart disease.
Revilla, Sr. was in and out of the hospital from Jan. 26 to 31, 2017.
Revilla’s father was earlier hospitalized due to severe sepsis secondary to pneumonia. Perfecto Raymundo/PNA-northboundasia.com