MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – After securing court permission, Senator Ramon “Bong”Revilla Jr visited his son, Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla, at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City where he is being treated for a gunshot wound.
The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan’s First Division granted Revilla’s request to visit his son on Tuesday, March 3, from 3 pm to 8 pm.
The senator left the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame past 1 pm and arrived at the hospital at around 2 pm.
The office of Senator Revilla released photos of his emotional, tearful meeting with his son.
Revilla had filed a motion for a 24-hour furlough on Monday, March 2, so he could visit his son. He reportedly plans to seek court permission for another visit, if the vice governor's situation deteriorates.
In the two-page motion, Revilla's lawyers had said that the senator "feels helpless and distraught about the serious threat to the life of his son" and is "anxious to know" the status of his condition.
The vice governor was rushed to the Asian Hospital on Saturday after he accidentally shot himself on the chest while cleaning his gun in their home, according to the Revilla family spokesperson, lawyer Raymond Fortun.
Fortun said in an interview with reporters late Tuesday afternoon that the younger Revilla's situation has "deteriorated" and he is in "critical condition. Despite his condition, the voce governer has been moved to a regular room, in deference to other patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), who might be inconvenienced by his visitors.
The senator is detained in Camp Crame over plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.
The elder Revilla's permission to visit his son comes amidst controversy over his unauthorized visit to fellow detainee senator Juan Ponce Enrile at the PNP General Hospital on February 14, where Enrile celebrated his 91st birthday.
The visit led to the sacking of PNP officials. – Rappler.com