After bail denial, Revilla slams ‘persecution’

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of detained Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. denounced yesterday the continued persecution that the lawmaker is allegedly being subjected to following the denial of his petition for bail.

His lawyer and spokesperson Raymond Fortun said the Office of the Ombudsman’s announcement that it will now push for the transfer of the accused to a regular jail and pursue garnishment of his assets is baseless.

“Senator Revilla deplores the continued attempts to persecute and tarnish his reputation as a senator of the country,” Fortun told The STAR in an interview.

He said the Philippine National Police custodial center where the accused is currently being held ensures the safety and security of Revilla while the latter is undergoing trial for plunder for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

“The senators are still presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he stressed, apparently referring not only to his client but also Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada.

Estrada is also currently detained at the PNP custodial center while Enrile is under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital.

Revilla’s petition for bail was denied last Tuesday but he is expected to appeal the anti-graft court’s decision through a motion for reconsideration.

The petitions for bail of his former chief of staff Richard Cambe and alleged pork barrel fund scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles were also denied.

Estrada is also asking the Sandiganbayan for bail while Enrile has decided to bring his arguments questioning his indictment and denial of bail before the Supreme Court.