Sen Revilla to ask for furlough to visit Jolo in hospital

Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr.

MANILA – Detained Sen. Ramon ”Bong” Revilla Jr. will ask the Sandiganbayan for permission to visit his son, Cavite Vice-Governor Jolo Revilla, at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The younger Revilla was rushed to the hospital on Saturday, where he has been confined at the intensive care unit, due to a gunshot wound to the chest.

Atty. Raymond Fortun, spokesperson of the Revilla family, told reporters from the Philippine Star that Revilla will ask for a day or two furlough to visit his son.

“Sinabihan na niya ang kanyang abugado, si Atty. Mon Esguerra, na mag file ng mosyon para payagan po siya ng sandiganbayan na makadalaw sa kanyang anak,” Fortun said.
Fortun earlier told the Philippine Star the senator would ask for a 24- to 48-hour furlough.

According to Fortun, Jolo has expressed regret over the incident.

“He was a little bit sorry. Tinanong ko kasi siya, ‘Jolo, kumusta ka na?’ Sabi niya, ‘heto, attorney, nagkamali ako. I would think he was referring to the fact that he was cleaning his gun at that time and somehow nakalabit niya ‘yung trigger.”

Earlier reports said that Jolo tried to take his own life because of alleged depression over his father’s detention on charges of plunder relative to the pork barrel scam. But more recent reports said that the gunshot wound was sustained accidentally while Jolo was cleaning a handgun.

“Sen. Bong is expectedly worried and frustrated that he couldn’t be with his son,” Fortun said.