Bong Revilla Now Behind Bars

FORMER Senator Bong Revilla doesn’t seem keen on the idea of cops swooping down his Cavite mansion, as he opted to surrender to the Philippine National Police (PNP) moments after receiving a digital copy of an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan over a P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Revilla, whom he claims to be his longtime friend, went straight to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez in Camp Crame on Monday night (January 19) to surrender.

The warrant, signed by Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson Associate Justice Jarl Miranda, was issued for Revilla and several others for malversation and falsification charges. It stated no bail provision for Revilla.

ALL EXCEPT ONE

Aside from Revilla, likewise ordered arrested are former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez, who has been under Senate custody since September 2025. 

Others on the list include former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) Engr. Jaypee Mendoza, former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr. Arjay Domasig, former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr. Emelita Juat, former DPWH Bulacan First DEO finance section chief Juanito Mendoza and DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office cashier Christina Pineda.

Except for Juat, whom Remulla claimed has already been spotted and would be arrested soon, all persons covered by the warrant are already under police custody.

CASE INFORMATION

The charges for which the arrest warrants were issued are related to a P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, “which turned out to be a ghost or non-existent project,” says the charge sheet filed by Ombudsman prosecutors.

According to the state prosecutors, Revilla, in connivance with the DPWH engineers, took a cut worth P76.9 million from the contractor. “Less than 3% of the contract price was retained,” reads part of the charge sheet.

Based on the case information, it was Revilla who “caused or facilitated the inclusion” of the Pandi project in the 2025 national budget. 

The anti-graft court also alleged that the former senator received through then-public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo a significant percentage of the funds allotted for the project as “commission.” 

The contractor for the Pandi project is SYMS Construction, whose owner Sally Santos is set to testify against Revilla following the approval of her application as state witness.

QUEZON CITY JAIL

The Sandiganbayan on Tuesday morning ordered the temporary detention of the former senator at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Barangay Payatas.

Miranda justified the court’s decision by citing the letter of PNP chief Nartatez cautioning the anti-graft court from further ordering the detention of persons deprived of liberty inside the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

The PNP Custodial Center is a facility where suspected terrorists, suspects most likely to escape, and suspects charged with heinous crimes are detained, making the addition of a high-risk detainee like Revilla “a burden on the part of the PNP.” 

Revilla’s detention, however, is temporary since his camp filed a motion for him to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center. Hearing on Revilla’s motion is set on Friday, January 23.

PORK BARREL SCAM

Revilla is no stranger to the jail environment though. He spent four years (from 2014 60 2018) behind bars over a plunder charge related to the infamous pork barrel scam. 

In 2018, he was discharged from detention after being acquitted and cleared of other related criminal charges. His acquittal however had a condition — that he should return the P124 million loot that was deposited in his bank account — which he has yet to comply with, to date.

He was subsequently reelected to the Senate in 2019 for another six-year term, but lost in the 2025 polls.