Jinggoy, Bong want extended visiting hours on New Year

MANILA, Philippines – Detained senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. want to spend 13 hours with their family and friends in their cells at Camp Crame on New Year’s Eve.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor told The STAR Estrada and Revilla have asked the Headquarters Support Service (HSS) to allow them to extend their visiting time until the wee hours of the morning of Jan. 1.

“Sens. Estrada and Revilla filed their request to extend visiting hours on New Year’s Eve from 1 p.m. of Dec. 31, 2014 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, 2015,” he said.

Mayor said HSS director Chief Superintendent Alberto Supapo has forwarded the request to PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina for approval.

The two senators had originally requested for extension of visiting hours on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24 to 25) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, 2015), but the requests were only filed on Dec. 24, giving them limited time to tackle the matter, he added.

Reports said some visitors of the two senators had extended their stay on Dec. 24, but that they were informed that the requests have not been acted upon.

On weekdays, visiting time is from 1p.m. to 5 p.m., while on weekends, they can spend time with their families and friends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enrile, through Bibeth Orteza, wife of film director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, has requested for a showing of the movie “Hari ng Tondo” at the PNP General Hospital, where he is under hospital arrest.