Roxas fires PNP Official responsible for Revilla’s unauthorized visit to JPE’s birthday

Senator and actor Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. (encircled) at Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s recent birthday party. (Contributed photo)

MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Thursday ordered the relief of Police Chief Supt. Alberto Supapo, chief of the Philippine National Police -Headquarters Support Service (PNP-HSS), due to alleged unauthorized visit of detained Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla to the PNP General Hospital last Saturday.

Revilla was seen attending the birthday party of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was detained in the said hospital for plunder charges in line with the pork barrel scam.

Roxas designated Police Senior Supt. Elmer Beltejar as PNP-HSS Officer in Charge (OIC).

Roxas also explained the sequence of events that transpired on Valentine’s Day during which it was reported that Senators Enrile and Revilla had a celebration under the guise of a medical emergency.

“The specialty ward, where Enrile allegedly received guests including Revilla, is quite distant from the emergency room, where detainees usually received treatment for medical emergencies,” Roxas explained while presenting the layout to the reporters during the press briefing held at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

“This kind of scenario happened twice.

The same also happened to Senator Jinggoy Estrada,” Roxas said.

“We are having investigation for this. Detained senators were able to hold a get-together, and investigation says that there are violations in PNP rules,” Roxas said.

Roxas also disputed reports that the meeting between Enrile and Revilla was a chance encounter, as the area was not where individuals would usually pass by.

Dr. Raymond Santos, who was on duty at the emergency room at that time, also said that he did not see the detainees seek medical assistance there.

When asked for recommendations to transfer the senators to another detention facility, Roxas said that it was up to the courts to decide.

“We will do what the court tells us to do,” Roxas answered.

Aside from Supapo, other officers of the Custodial Center were under investigation and possibly would face administrative charges.