Revilla now detained in Camp Crame
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. is now detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame after he surrendered to the Sandiganbayan on Friday morning.
Revilla, who was brought by authorities to Camp Crame around 1 p.m., went to the PNP Multi-Purpose Hall where his fingerprints and mug shots where taken before his detention.
After undergoing physical and medical examination, Revilla was later taken to to the PNP Custodial Center and was accompanied by his family and friends.
Earlier today, the popular senator and action movie star surrendered to the Sandiganbayan after it ordered his arrest on plunder and graft charges in connection with pork barrel scam.
A member of a powerful political clan and one of the country's most famous movie and television celebrities, Revilla arrived in a convoy of SUVs with his wife, children and fans at the anti-graft court.
Along with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, Revilla Was indicted early this month for allegedly receiving huge kickbacks from pork barrel funds diverted to bogus foundations of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
"Even in my dreams I didn't see this coming," Revilla said in Filipino at his mansion in Cavite, where his fans and relatives gathered to show support before his trip to the court. "It's like a nightmare I can't wake up from."
"I will go to jail with my head held high, and I will come out with my head held high," the senator also said.
Revilla's lawyer, Joel Bodegon filed a petition for bail and requested a hearing next week.
"The evidence against him is weak," Bodegon said. "He never received any kickback, not a single cent, and he did not get anything from the scam."
The anti-graft court has not yet issued arrest warrants for Enrile and Estrada.
The Sandiganbayan First Division rejected motions by Revilla's lawyer to dismiss the charges, saying it had "sufficient grounds" to issue the arrest warrant against the senator. -Louis Bacani with Oliver Teves, the Associated Press
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