Relatives, friends of Bong, Jinggoy hit for violating visiting hours

MANILA, Philippines - Are the relatives and friends of detained Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. above the law?

Relatives and friends of Estrada and Revilla yesterday stayed at the Custodial Center beyond the visiting hours set by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The Custodial Center set visitation hours for Estrada and Revilla every Sunday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

However, at 3:45 p.m. a motorcycle rider of North Park restaurant delivered food to the Custodial Center, where Revilla and Estrada are locked up for plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.

At 4:40 p.m. comedian Bayani Agbayani and female and child companions went out of the center.

“Madami pang tao sa loob, mga pamilya (many people are still inside, the families),” Agbayani said.

At 5 p.m., there was still no sign of relatives of Estrada and Revilla going out of the center.

“Wala na ba silang kinikilang batas? Simpleng oras ng regulation sa loob ng kulungan hindi nila masunod? (Don’t they know the law? They cannot follow simple time regulation inside the detention facility?)” a policewoman said.

The police officer added that PNP officials appeared to be helpless and could not enforce the rules and regulations at Camp Crame.

Members of the media, who were outside the Custodial Center, also observed that relatives and friends of Estrada and Revilla stayed inside the jail premises even in the wee hours of Sunday.

Estrada and Revilla are facing plunder and graft charges for alleged misuse of their pork barrel funds, which came from the taxes of the people.

Revilla entered no plea during his arraignment last week, so the Sandiganbayan 1st Division entered a plea of not guilty for him.

Estrada’s arraignment is set today at the 5th Division of the anti-graft court. His lawyer Jose Flaminiano said in a radio interview that his client is not likely to enter any plea. – With Christina Mendez