Detainees sign petition to have Jinggoy, Bong transferred

Over 50 detainees at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame want Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla to be transferred to another facility— and all because they want some peace and quiet.

In a handwritten petition document handed to the members of the PNP Press Corps, the detainees complained about the fact that the two senators’ visitors were being allowed to stay with them well after the detentional facility’s prescribed hours.

Normally, the PNP Custodial Center detainees are allowed to see visitors only on Thursdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The detainees and personnel said that they observed this was not implemented when it came to Estrada and Revilla.

As such, they said that the presence of the two had disturbed the detention facility’s routine. In their handwritten petition, they wrote, “Una,sa kasaysayan ng kulungang ito, halos isang dekada na, maayos ang pagpapatakbo rito at halos walang nangyaring kaguluhan.”

The peaceful atmosphere, the petitioners claimed, was disturbed by the mere presence of Estrada and Revilla, who were sought by the media.

They also referred to the fact that the PNP has asked the chief of the Custodial Center, Superintendent Mario Malana, to explain why the visiting hours for Senator Estrada were extended over the weekend. They mentioned Estrada and his wife’s celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary.

The detainees reiterated that it wasn’t just the Estrada wedding anniversary that bothered them, it was the fact that there was always constant attention on him and Revilla. As such, they said they saw no other way to regain the peaceful vibe at the detention facility but to transfer the two high-profile occupants.

Below are screenshots of the petition document, which contain the names and signatures of the detainees. Husband and wife Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army members, lead the signatories.