Revilla surrenders, vows to face flood mess case
Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. surrendered to authorities on Monday night after the Sandiganbayan earlier in the day issued an arrest warrant for the former senator and six others implicated in anomalies in the government’s flood control projects.
In a video he posted on Facebook on Monday night, Revilla confirmed his impending arrest, saying: “We received information that my warrant of arrest is out. This is saddening. It’s like there’s no due process.”
“But still, i will face this without fear. And i know God won’t abandon me. Because i did nothing wrong. I only ask for your prayers and give my family strength,” the former senator said.
Around 10 p.m. on Monday, Revilla was headed to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, accompanied by authorities.
The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division on Monday issued an arrest warrant and hold-departure order against Revilla and six others: dismissed assistant district engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, as well as engineers Arjay Domasig and Emelita Juat, finance section chief Juanito Mendoza and cashier Christina Pineda.
All six had been dismissed earlier from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza had been in the Senate’s custody since last year, after they were cited for contempt before the blue ribbon committee. On Monday night, soon after Sen. Panfilo Lacson, committee chair, was informed about the order for their arrest, they were handed over to agents of the National Bureau of Investigation visiting the Senate to carry out the warrants.
Revilla and the others are facing graft and malversation charges before the antigraft court’s Third Division.
The former senator was dragged into the infrastructure corruption issue after former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo said a number of senators and congressmen received kickbacks from DPWH projects.
Besides Revilla, Bernardo also mentioned former Sen. and now Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, Senators Francis Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada, resigned lawmaker and fugitive Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol party list, former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy, former San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and the late Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
Bonoan, who resigned on Sept. 1 last year, has returned to the country after a trip to the United States since last November and attended Monday’s hearing by the Senate blue ribbon committee. Cabral resigned on Sept. 14 and died after a fall along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Dec. 18.
Close ties with Revilla
During a hearing by the blue ribbon panel on Nov. 14 last year, Bernardo said he had a close and friendly relationship with Revilla, explaining that they frequently met in important social gatherings.
“Senator Revilla later on became a godparent of two of my daughters, while I became a godparent to one of his children,” he said.
Because of this close relationship, Bernardo said the former senator had sought his assistance on several matters.
“Sometime in the third quarter of 2024, Revilla and I met, [and] he asked for a list of projects for funding ostensibly to help him in his national campaign. When Senator Revilla asked about the percentage of the commitment, I suggested either 20 percent or 25 percent, to which Senator Revilla said 25 percent,” Bernardo had told the Senate panel.
Soon thereafter, Bernardo said he personally asked Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara as well as Gerard Opulencia, DPWH regional director for the National Capital Region, to prepare a list of projects.
In another encounter with Opulencia, Bernardo said he was told the “25-percent commitment” was already in his vehicle.
Bernardo also said he directed one of his aides to deliver another “commitment” worth P250 million to Revilla’s residence in Bacoor, Cavite, before the start of the 2025 midterm campaign when he was seeking reelection.
Bulacan ‘ghost’ project
Revilla and his coaccused are also charged with graft, in connection with a “ghost” flood works project in Pandi, Bulacan. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the graft and malversation charges on Jan. 16.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the accused allegedly conspired to release at least P76 million as payment for the flood control project in Purok V, Barangay Bunsuran, which had been awarded to a private contractor in March 2025.
Clavano said an official inspection and accounts by witnesses showed the project was never implemented but was reported to have been “completed” to allow the release of its funds.
But Clavano did not specify Revilla’s role in the alleged conspiracy, given that the former senator is from Cavite province. He also did not identify the contractor or explain why no representatives from the construction company were named as co-respondents.
Revilla appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Dec. 10 last year to submit his response to allegations linking him to anomalous flood control projects.
He again appeared before the DOJ on Jan. 5 to answer further the allegations against him.
2013 pork barrel scam
Revilla, Estrada and the late former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile were previously jailed in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam of 2013. Revilla was acquitted of plunder in 2018 but was ordered to return P124 million in public funds which he has yet to turn over.
Meanwhile, Revilla’s former chief of staff, lawyer Richard Cambe, was convicted of plunder and died of a stroke in 2021 while appealing his conviction. Revilla was acquitted of 16 counts of graft that year. —WITH REPORTS FROM JOHN ERIC MENDOZA AND INQUIRER RESEARCH
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