MANILA – Detained senator, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has been allowed by the Sandiganbayan to leave the detention facility at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center in Camp Crame in order to have a medical check-up tonight at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig.
Revilla has been granted permission to leave the PNP facility before 6 p.m. of Monday, November 17, and is expected to return by 12 noon of Tuesday, November 17.
The senator – one of three detained on charges of plunder relative to the P10-billion pork barrel scam – has reportedly been suffering from migraine headaches.
“I am happy that I was allowed to undergo a checkup considering that this migraine has been attacking me since I was brought here for I think six or seven times already,” Revilla said; as he thanked the anti-graft court for giving the approval for the medical procedures.
He added that doctors on staff at the PNP General Hospital had repeatedly advised him to obtain medical help for the intense headaches, described by Revilla as a “nine” on a scale of 1-10.
Revilla also disclosed that the doctors had cautioned him that these types of headaches – which result in his blood pressure to as much as 170, when attacks occur – could possibly lead to a ruptured vein.
“Doctors here have long been advising me to get a checkup but I said we should ask permission first. In short, it wasn’t me who wanted this checkup,” he explained; stressing that he did not want this to be used as a new “issue” against him.
In its ruling to allow Revilla to seek medical attention, the Sandiganbayan First Division stated on Thursday last week that “after going over the arguments of the parties, the Court is inclined to grant the motion for humanitarian considerations, over the objection of the prosecution,” the anti-graft court said.