PROSECUTORS on Thursday posed objection to a motion filed by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to allow him to go out of his detention cell at Camp Crame and attend his daughter’s high school graduation on March 28 at De La Salle in Muntinlupa City.
“If this Honorable Court accedes to Revilla’s request, it will grant him a special privilege that is not accorded to an ordinary prisoner and unduly create an impression to the public that accused Revilla, being a high-ranking public official, is a favored detainee,” their four-page motion read.
The Ombudsman lawyers said to grant Revilla such privilege is tantamount to “special treatment.”
They questioned if Revilla’s daughter —Ma. Franzel Loudette Bautista,—is indeed to graduate from high school, citing the senator’s failure to attach supporting documents.
“He should have, at the very least, substantiated his claim with proof that his daughter Loudette is indeed one of the candidates for graduation from De La Salle Zobel,” the prosecution said.
“Inasmuch as accused Revilla has not provided any basis to support his assertion, which claims remain unsubstantiated and self serving, this Honorable Court is left with nothing for the purpose of evaluating the merits of the instant motion.”
The counsel of Revilla told the court that they would present documents to substantiate that Loudette would graduate with three honors — St. Mutien Marie Award, St. De La Salle Award and Alfonso Yuchengco National Discipline Award.
According to the prosecution, Revilla is a flight risk, and that his movement must be restricted.
“Revilla is herein charged with the grave offence of plunder, and his petition for bail has already been denied. Considering the gravity of the offense charged against him, and the current stage of the proceedings herein, not to mention the magnitude of the amount involved, the Honorable Court must deny the instant motion so as not to afford accused Revilla the opportunity, however remote, to escape from incarceration,” it said. lawyers said.
“It is precisely for this reason [of special treatment] that the Fifth Division of this Honorable Court earned the ire of the public when it granted a similar motion filed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and allowed the latter to attend the graduation ceremonies of his son, Julian Emilio Estrada,” the prosecution said.
Revilla is facing plunder and 16 counts of graft charges for allegedly pocketing millions of pesos in kickbacks from his pork barrel fund funneled to non-government organizations engineered by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.