Sandiganbayan detains ex-senator Revilla in QC jail on graft, malversation charges

Under tight security, former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was brought to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas on Jan. 20 after the Sandiganbayan ordered his detention over graft and malversation charges tied to a P92.8 million Bulacan flood control project.

Revilla appeared before the Third Division of the anti-graft court for the processing of booking procedures and commitment orders, one day after arrest warrants were issued for him and six co-accused.

He is facing a separate graft case before the Fourth Division and a non-bailable malversation through falsification case before the Third Division.

For the graft charge, he posted P90,000 bail, but the malversation case kept him in custody.

Four co-accused Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, and Arjay Domasig, and Bulacan First District Engineering Office accountant Juanito Mendoza also underwent booking procedures and were later committed to the same jail.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Revilla’s surrender followed the issuance of the electronic warrant, and authorities completed standard intake procedures, including medical checks, fingerprinting, and documentation, before his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, where the former senator is currently detained.

“He came here himself. It was a voluntary surrender,” Remulla uttered.

According to representatives of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Revilla would be kept in a shared cell without any special accommodations and would go through a seven-day quarantine before being allowed to rejoin the general population.

Revilla arrived at the Payatas jail on January 20, accompanied by family members and legal counsel, as authorities cited proximity to the Sandiganbayan as a practical consideration for court proceedings.He was accompanied by his wife, Cavite second district Rep. 

Lani Mercado-Revilla, and their son, Cavite first district Rep. Jolo Revilla, who said he would face the charges and asked for prayers for his family.

“This is saddening. It’s like there’s no due process. But still, I will face this without fear,” Senator Revilla said in his Facebook live video on January 19.

On the other hand, Malacañang said due process was observed and that political ties would not affect the proceedings, noting Revilla’s previous inclusion in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2025 senatorial slate.

“The President is saddened because they were together in the Alyansa [para sa Bagong Pilipinas], and Senator Revilla is his friend. Nevertheless, due process must still prevail,” Palace Press officer Claire Castro stated.

In addition, authorities said 21 firearms were taken from Revilla after his licenses were canceled, and arraignment and pretrial for the cases were set for Jan. 23, when the court is also expected to hear his motion for transfer. 

This recent case against Revilla occurred seven years after his acquittal in the pork barrel scam, where he was accused of amassing P224.5 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) kickbacks from businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. Revilla was then arrested in 2014.