MANILA, Philippines – Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada will have more time to receive visitors in their Camp Crame detention center after the Philippine National Police (PNP) adjusted visiting hours.

The move comes just days after the PNP flouted its own rules on visitors. 

With the new schedule, Revilla, Estrada, and every other detainee at the PNP Custodial Center can receive visitors Tuesday to Fridays from 1 pm to 5 pm, and every Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Previously, the custodial center had a tight schedule for visitors depending on building assignments. Detainees only had two days for “regular visits,” one day for “special visits” and Fridays for conjugal visits. Revilla and Estrada’s scheduled days for visitors were Thursdays and Sundays, from 9 am to 3pm.

The new schedule follows visiting hours set by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which runs the country’s jails. (IN PHOTOS: Senators’ detention center in Camp Crame) 

Watch this report below.

Revilla and Estrada are in detention over graft and plunder charges. The two, along with Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, allegedly pocketed millions of pesos in priority development assistance funds (PDAF) or pork barrel through fake projects and bogus NGOs. As of this publication, Enrile has yet to be served a warrant.

Controversy over visitors

The PNP came under fire recently after reports that visitors were allowed into the two senators’ detention center way beyond visiting hours. According to media reports, some visitors left the custodial center past midnight on Saturday, June 28.

Police have yet to explain why visitors were allowed past visiting hours, but PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac explained the June 28 visitation was requested by Estrada because it was his wedding anniversary.

The request was approved by PNP Headquarters Support Service head Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona. Following reports of violations of the custodial center’s visiting hours, Estipona ordered custodial center head Superintendent Mario Malana to explain the incident.

According to the PNP, 81 visitors entered the custodial center on June 28 – 61 were reportedly Revilla’s visitors, while the other 29 were visitors of Estrada. Sindac previously said that only 30 visitors at a time are allowed inside the detention area of the two senators because of the limited space.

Sindac said they expect Estipona to submit his report on Wednesday, July 2.

The road leading to the custodial center, which was closed in the days prior to the surrender of Estrada and Revilla, has since been opened to traffic, said Sindac.

The reopening of the street also means media would no longer be able to conduct stakeouts outside the custodial center. “We cannot question camp rules as they are implemented by the HSS,” said Sindac in a text message.

He added that media would still be allowed, given the proper permits. – Rappler.com