Jinggoy, Bong lose aircon perk

MANILA, Philippines - Detained Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. are spending not only lonely but hot Christmas holidays in their detention cells at Camp Crame.

A congressman close to the opposition senators told The STAR yesterday that the two are now back to using electric fans after the Philippine National Police (PNP) took away air-conditioning units in their respective rooms last week.

“They were stripped of such small convenience apparently as an offshoot of the discovery that convicted drug lords and bank robbers serving time at the Bilibid prisons in Muntinlupa were enjoying VIP (very important person) privileges,” he said.

The lawmaker said authorities in Camp Crame obviously did not want to be accused of giving special treatment to Estrada and Revilla.

He said the two senators have complained to their colleagues in the Senate, their senior staff and the PNP leadership about the taking away of their “air-conditioning privilege.”

However, the lawmaker added the amenity has not been returned.

The PNP explained they are providing equal treatment to all detainees, regardless of their status.

“We are duty bound to implement the rules, which is about equal treatment for all detainees. Although we have strict rules, we are also making sure that their human rights are respected,” PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said.

“The court has jurisdiction over the senators, any concern should be course through the court,” he added.

Mayor stressed the PNP-Headquarters Support Service (HSS) is merely following rules and regulations patterned after the standard management of jail facilities nationwide.

Earlier, the PNP maintained it will not bend on the strict visitation policy for the three senators, even during the holidays, and would not allow any special arrangement.

Estrada, Revilla and Enrile are detained on plunder and graft charges in connection with the alleged misuse of more than P1 billion in their combined pork barrel fund allocations between 2007 and 2009.

Also detained are alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and senior aides of the accused senators.

The Sandiganbayan division handling Revilla’s cases has denied his petition for bail. Another division hearing the complaints against Estrada has asked to be allowed to inhibit from his cases, but the Sandiganbayan turned down its request.

Estrada and Revilla are detained at the PNP custodial center in Camp Crame, while Enrile is held at the Camp Crame Hospital.– Cecille Suerte Felipe