Revilla’s furlough request denied

THE Sandiganbayan denied former Senator Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla, Jr.’s request for a temporary release from custody to attend the wake of his brother, ruling that no law grants a detained accused the right to a furlough and that the circumstances presented do not justify an exception.

In a three-page resolution promulgated on June 26 and made public on Tuesday, the anti-graft court’s Third Division denied Mr. Revilla’s urgent motion for furlough for lack of merit.

The former senator sought permission to leave the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory, under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), to attend the wake of his late brother, Jojo Manungas Bautista, in Imus, Cavite, for at least four hours on June 27 or 28.

The court said it sympathized with Mr. Revilla and his family but stressed that it must determine whether the relief sought is authorized by law and consistent with its duty to ensure the accused’s continued custody.

Citing the Rules of Criminal Procedure and Supreme Court jurisprudence, the Third Division said the recognized grounds for an accused’s temporary release are limited to bail and recognizance.

It added that while the Supreme Court has considered humanitarian grounds in granting temporary release through bail, there is “no law or rule” granting an accused the right to a furlough.

It also cited the Supreme Court’s rulings in People v. Jalosjos and Trillanes v. Pimentel, Sr., which held that temporary leaves from detention may be allowed only under emergency or compelling circumstances.

The court ruled that the death of Mr. Revilla’s sibling, while a personal tragedy, did not meet that threshold.

The Third Division also cited security concerns, saying granting the request would require significant BJMP resources and could create the impression that Mr. Revilla, a former high-ranking public official, was receiving preferential treatment over similarly situated detainees.

Instead, the court said detention authorities may allow Mr. Revilla to receive visits from immediate family members, participate virtually in memorial rites if facilities permit, or communicate with relatives through authorized means.

Mr. Revilla’s petition for bail in the non-bailable malversation case involving the alleged P92.8-million “ghost” flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan remains pending.

He has separately posted bail in the related graft case. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez