Bong Revilla leaves Camp Crame detention, now a free man

Former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla is officially a free man, having left the PNP Custodial Center early evening on Friday night.

Ex-Senator Bong Revilla leaves Camp Crame after being acquitted of P224 million plunder charge @gmanews pic.twitter.com/RLltKWMGVW

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) December 7, 2018

"After four years and almost six months, finally, makakalabas na rin ako. Lumabas na yung katotohanan," Revilla told reporters on his way out of detention.

"Nagpapasalamat ako at may hustisya pa rin sa ating bansa, nagpapasalamat sa mga kababayan, sa mga patuloy na nagdarasal (para) sa 'kin," he added.

The Sandiganbayan on Friday acquitted Revilla of the plunder raps against him in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam. 

"Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Sandiganbayan, sa inyo pong lahat, maraming maraming salamat," Revilla said.

While the non-guilty verdict on Revilla was issued before 10 a.m., the release order was served by the Sandiganbayan sheriff in PNP Custodial Center at 5:47 pm.

Revilla, wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt, was accompanied by his wife Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado, their children, family members and supporters. They boarded a coaster.

On his way to the coaster, Revilla was heavily guarded by the policemen and a throng of his aides who wore white shirts emblazoned with his name. A reporter and a cameraman fell on the ground due to the frenzy bordering a stampede, momentarily delaying Revilla’s way to the coaster.

Revilla’s son and Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla earlier said that the family will proceed to Imus Cathedral to give thanks before going to Angelus Memorial Gardens in Imus to visit the tomb of former Senator Bong's mom, Azucena.

The family will then pay a visit to former Revilla's father, former Senator Ramon Revilla, Sr. before finally going to their residence in Bacoor.

Prior to his acquittal, Revilla spent four years and six months in prison.

Revilla, however, was able to file his certificate of candidacy for the 2019 Senate race last October via his wife, Lani Mercado.

“Ang isyu po rito ay kung ano pa ang magagawa ni Senator Bong. Hindi po issue ang kaso niya,” Mercado said back then, adding that her husband will push for scholarship and healthcare programs in the event that he wins a seat in the Senate again.

Revilla previously served as a Senator from 2004 to 2016.

Jolo, however, said that his father’s way back to the Senate in 2019 will be easy despite the acquittal.

“Hindi natin masasabing magiging easy victory [sa 2019]. Ngayong nasa labas na siya, magagawa na niya ‘yung dapat na pag-iikot para mangampanya, para magpasalamat,” Jolo said.

“We are hoping that he wins,” he added. —NB, GMA News