House arrest for Revilla, Estrada? Up to court - Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is leaving up to the Sandiganbayan to decide if Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. can be placed under house arrest.

Presidential Communication Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Palace respects the independence of the judiciary.

"Nasa pagpapasya na po iyan ng hukuman at umaasa po tayo na gagawin ng Sandiganbayan ang kanilang tungkulin nang naaayon sa batas," Coloma said at a televised press briefing on Wednesday.

Like Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Estrada and Revilla are facing plunder charges  for allegedly amassing kickbacks from their pork barrel funds diverted to bogus foundations of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

On Tuesday, Estrada said in a television interview that he would like to be placed under house arrest if he had it his way.

But the senator is also ready to be detained in a regular jail or at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

Revilla, who delivered a farewell speech at the Senate last week, said he is also ready to go to jail anytime.

On issues about his place of detention, Revilla said he is leaving it up to his legal team.

"Sa akin pinapaubaya ko na sa legal team pero sa akin, kahit saan okay lang ako. Kung gusto nila akong ibartolina okay lang basta ready na ako," Revilla said.

Related: Jinggoy prefers house arrest over prison | Bong Revilla's bags packed; ready for jail