Sandiganbayan denies Revilla’s request to attend brother’s wake

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan rejected a motion filed by former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to leave jail to attend the wake of his brother last month, saying it wanted to avoid giving the impression he was receiving special treatment.

Revilla and several former officials of the Department of Public Works are charged with the nonbailable offense of plunder over an alleged “ghost” project worth P92.8 million in Pandi, Bulacan.

The former senator, who has repeatedly denied any involvement in the scheme, has a pending petition for bail before the Third Division. He is currently being held at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.

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In a resolution dated June 26 that was released to the media on Tuesday, the antigraft court division rejected Revilla’s urgent motion for furlough filed on the same day.

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READ: Revilla posts P90,000 bail in graft case tied to P92-M Bulacan project

Revilla had requested that he be allowed to go to the wake of his brother, Jojo Manungas Bautista, in Imus, Cavite, on June 27 or June 28, accompanied by personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). He also asked the court for permission not to wear his prison garb.

Basis for decision

“The situation presented by accused Revilla could not be considered an emergency or a compelling circumstance that warrants an exception to the general rules imposed on a detained accused,” read the Third Division resolution signed by Associate Justice Karl Miranda.

“While the loss of a sibling is a distinct tragedy, the justification presented by accused Revilla does not rise to the level of an exceptional ground required to override the court’s primary duty of maintaining secure custody over the accused, particularly considering the seriousness of the charges against him,” it said.

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READ: Bong Revilla surrenders amid arrest warrant over flood control mess

Strain on BJMP resources

The court also noted that Revilla’s request would “strain the security capabilities and personnel of the BJMP.”

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“It would also unduly create an impression on the public that accused, being a former high-ranking public official, is a favored detainee over and above other similarly situated detainees,” the court added. /cb

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