Bong’s ex-aide wants laptop, internet in jail

Ex-senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s former aide, his co-accused in a plunder case over the pork barrel fund scam, has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to have access to his laptop with internet connection while he is in detention.

In a two- page motion filed before the court’s First Division, Richard Cambe, the former chief of staff of Revilla, said he needs to have an access to “new technology” in order to better prepare for the start of the plunder trial, especially as he is acting as his own lawyer.

Cambe is accused of conspiring with Revilla in funneling the former senator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel to bogus foundations linked with the alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for P224.512-million worth of kickbacks.

He and Revilla are currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame Quezon City while Napoles is detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. Cambe pointed out that he and the other parties in the case were earlier mandated by the court to comment on the pre- trial order (PTO) which the clerk of court said will be sent to them via electronic mail.

A PTO is issued by the court to serve as guide for orderly proceedings during the trial proper.

Listed in the PTO are the documentary exhibits and names of the persons to be presented by both the prosecution and the defense during the trial.

The trial of Revilla, Cambe and Napoles’ plunder case was set to start on March 30.