Senator Bong Revilla posts bail for graft, but to be detained for malversation

• Bong Revilla posts bail for the graft case filed against him but was denied bail for a P92.8M malversation case
• He was then transported to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory after the court denied his request for detention at Camp Crame
• Investigators allege that Revilla and DPWH officials falsified reports to release P76M for a flood control project that was never built
• The former senator will be formally arraigned on Jan. 23, where the court will also hear his motion to transfer to a more secure facility

Former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. posted a P90,000 bond for a pending graft charge, however, he will remain behind bars due to a separate, non-bailable accusation of malversation of public funds.

The former legislator begins his temporary incarceration at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

The malversation case centers on a P92.8-million flood control initiative in Pandi, Bulacan, which investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman have labeled a "ghost project."

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According to the charge sheet, Revilla and several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allegedly conspired to facilitate the release of roughly P76 million in government funds.

Official inspections later revealed that the construction, which was declared fully completed, never actually took place.

Because the amount involved in the malversation charge exceeds the P8.8-million threshold for bail under Philippine law, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division mandated Revilla’s immediate detention.

Revilla, who surrendered to authorities at Camp Crame on Monday night, appeared before the anti-graft court on Tuesday morning for the return of his arrest warrant.

His legal team filed an urgent plea for him to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center, citing security risks at the Payatas facility.

However, the court, led by Associate Justice Karl Miranda, opted for the Quezon City Jail following a letter from PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Nartatez cautioned against using the Camp Crame facility, noting it is currently reserved for high-risk suspects and that the PNP faces financial and manpower constraints for high-profile detainees.

Furthermore, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that parts of the custodial center are slated for demolition.

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The former senator is scheduled for arraignment on Friday, January 23, 2026. During this hearing, the court will also deliberate on his motion to transfer custody.

Despite the gravity of the charges—which include malversation through falsification of public documents—Revilla has maintained his innocence, claiming a lack of due process and vowing to fight the allegations "head-on."

Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. is a prominent Filipino figure celebrated for his dual success in cinema and public service. Rising to fame as a premier action star in the 1980s, he later transitioned into leadership roles in Cavite, serving as vice governor and governor. After leading the Optical Media Board, he began a long-term Senate tenure in 2004, focusing his legislative efforts on social reform and public infrastructure.

Yesterday, January 19, 2026, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division formally issued a warrant for former Senator Bong Revilla Jr. over his alleged participation in a P92.8-million fraudulent infrastructure scheme. Prosecution records indicate that P76 million in taxpayer funds were disbursed for a flood barrier in Pandi, Bulacan, that was reported as finished despite never being constructed. Alongside the arrest order, the anti-graft court enforced a Hold Departure Order against Revilla and six other former DPWH officials, strictly prohibiting them from leaving the country. Revilla has publicly challenged the charges, asserting his total innocence and lamenting a perceived lack of due process while facing the non-bailable accusation of malversation.

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Following his surrender at Camp Crame on Monday night, former Senator Revilla appeared before the Sandiganbayan on January 20 for the official return of his warrant. The appearance follows the court's decision to move forward with a non-bailable malversation case involving a massive flood control "ghost" project in Central Luzon. Hundreds of supporters clad in white gathered at the Sandiganbayan entrance, holding placards to voice their unwavering belief in the actor-politician's integrity. The legal battle centers on claims that the government paid for a P92.8-million drainage system that investigators found existed only on paper, with no actual implementation in the designated site.

Source: KAMI.com.gh