MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division denied for lack of merit former senator Ramon Revilla Jr.'s motion for furlough.
Revilla is detained at a jail in Quezon City while facing the malversation through falsification case filed against him and other people over the alleged ghost project in Pandi, Bulacan.
He filed an Urgent for Furlough last Monday to visit the wake in Cavite of his brother, who lived a private life, on June 27 or 28 for at least four hours between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
While the court deeply commiserated with Revilla and his family, it said that the situation he presented "could not be considered an emergency or a compelling circumstance that warrants an exception to the general rules imposed on a detained accused."
Also, the court acknowledged that granting him furlough "would strain the security capabilities and personnel of the" Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and "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 noted that there were other means for him to express his condolences and participate in the mourning. It also said he may be allowed to: be visited by immediate bereaved family members; virtually join religious services or memorial rites if the detention facility has the necessary facilities and security protocols; or communicate with his family through allowed means.
