Revilla’s request: Air cooler in jail

MANILA, Philippines – Just a few hours after entering jail on Friday, June 20, embattled Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr complained of migraine due to the unbearable heat. 

To beat the heat, the senator wants to be allowed to have an air cooler or a vaporizer in his detention cell in Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police, his wife, Cavite 2nd district Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla, told reporters. 

“Ang request lang po sana namin mapalamig ‘yung area kasi nagtiti-trigger ng migraine because of the heat,” Mercado-Revilla said.

(Our only request is for them to make the place cooler because the heat triggers his migraine.)

Revilla turned himself in on Friday even before authorities could serve the warrant for his arrest which the anti-graft court issued in the morning. 

He faces trial for allegedly receiving P242 million ($5.29 million) in kickbacks from his discretionary funds coursed through fake non-governmental organizations controlled by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles. 

Revilla’s family is concerned that the senator might suffer from aneurysm in jail if his migraine is not prevented. 

“Sana mapayagan po yung air cooler para at least medyo lumamig-lamig lalo na ‘pag hapon kasi very humid talaga. Mas mapapamahal talaga sila pag may nangyari na emergency dalin pa sa ER, mahirap po eh. We’ve experienced that,” his wife said.

(I hope they allow the air cooler so at least it would be cooler, especially in the afternoon because it’s really humid. It would be more costly for them if an emergency happens and he has to be brought to the emergency room, that’s difficult. We’ve experienced that.)

The senator has his medicines with him, but Mercado-Revilla said these might not be enough. 

“Ang problema there are times na ‘pag tulog sa gabi tapos nag-attack ang migraine paggising mo nandun na sa peak. Hindi na kaya ng medications ‘yun. That’s the time to go to the hospital and have some injections injected on him,” the congresswoman said.

(The problem is there are times when the migraine attacks when he is sleeping at night and when he wakes up, it’s already at its peak. Medication won’t be enough.)