PNoy on VIP jail for detained solons: We just follow court orders

President Benigno Aquino III denied that his government was giving special treatment to the senators detained in connection with the pork barrel scam as they are held at the PNP Custodial Center instead of in regular jails.

 

"It’s the court that decides. We just execute their orders," he said.

 

Aquino made the statement in response to an open letter by John Silva, executive director of the Ortigas Foundation Library, who earlier complained about the alleged VIP treatment for Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.

 

Revilla was joined at the custodial center by Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday.  

 

Both senators and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile are all facing plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the massive fraud.
 

 

In his letter to Aquino, Silva said that the senators' “huge comfy” jail cells were 10 times bigger than the one that was given to Aquino's father, the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., during the Marcos years.

 

The President, however, said it was difficult to compare the late senator's condition with those of the two already detained for plunder.

 

"Baka mahirap... i-compare... dahil talagang ang tinarget [si Ninoy]," Aquino said.

 

He added that "to be fair," there was air conditioning "at some point" in his father's cell in Fort Bonifacio. He also said Ninoy was allowed to come out of his room for one hour every day.

 

Aquino said that his father's placement in solitary confinement was a form of mental torture.

 

But just like the Palace's admission, Aquino said there was a need to reform the justice system in the Philippines.

 

"Ginagawan natin ng paraan na—two-fold... mapabilis yung wheels of justice and there is to provide better facilities," he said.

 

Aquino also said the progress of the pork scam cases was out of their hands.  He assured the public that they made sure they had evidence before they filed the cases.

 

"I tasked the SOJ (Secretary of Justice) to ensure... we have the evidence...the evidence is strong; and the strong evidence will, mahirap namang sabihing ‘guarantee’ conviction, but definitely that is a criteria," he said. —NB, GMA News