MANILA, Philippines — The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan Thursday granted the request of former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. to leave his detention for three days to visit his sick father in the hospital.
As prayed for in his urgent motion filed on Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan First Division allowed Revilla to leave his detention on December 29 from 6 a.m. to noon and on December 31 and January 1 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The court said it decided to dispense with the hearing of the motion "in view of the urgency of the situation."
"Acting thereon, this Court grants the motion for humanitarian considerations," the resolution reads.
In his motion, Revilla informed the court that his 89-year-old father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. was rushed back to St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on December 22 due to acute kidney injury and esophageal disease.
Revilla said his father is expected to be confined at SLMC for seven to 10 days or until January 3 as he is scheduled to undergo a gastrostomy tube insertion procedure “due to his inability to eat on his own.”
On December 16, the First Division allowed Revilla to leave his detention for six hours to visit his father who was at that time confined at the intensive care unit (ICU) of SLMC due to severe sepsis and pneumonia.
The younger Revilla is currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City for plunder and graft charges in connection with his alleged involvement in the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.
In granting his furlough, the court reminded Revilla that he is not allowed to grant any media interview and that he must shoulder all the expenses to be incurred for his transportation and security.