Court allows Bong Revilla to visit ailing father

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, February 7, allowed former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr to visit his father at the St Luke's Medical Center in Taguig on February 8 and 9.

The Sandiganbayan 1st Division granted Revilla's urgent motion to visit former senator Ramon Revilla Sr at the hospital from 7 am to 11 am on Wednesday, February 8; and from 4 pm to 8 pm on Thursday, February 9.

Revilla had earlier requested for hospital visits from 6 am to noon on February 8, and from 2 pm to 8 pm on February 9.

Revilla said his father is scheduled to undergo heart surgery at around 9 am on February 8 and that the older Revilla "specifically requested Senator Revilla to be at his side before the surgery."

"Senator Revilla thus feels it is his obligation to come to the aid of his father, who is very close to him, even by his mere presence, and cannot disregard a son’s natural urge and desire to visit and be with his ailing and weak father, and spend a few moments together, to provide former Senator Revilla Sr the needed assurance and support," the motion said.

Revilla Sr has been diagnosed with "severe aortic stenosis" that requires valve replacement, according to his son's motion.

The former senator's plunder trial is scheduled at 8:30 am on Thursday. He is accused of pocketing P224-million worth of kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Fund, in what is known as the PDAF or pork barrel scam.

In the past, the Sandiganbayan granted Revilla's request to leave his detention cell in Camp Crame for the following reasons:

– Rappler.com