By Benjamin Pulta and Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. voluntarily surrendered Monday night after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against him in connection with the charges arising from his alleged involvement in a P92.8 million ghost flood control project.
In a Facebook post, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Revilla was accompanied by his wife and children when he arrived at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame.
“Upon his arrival, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was immediately summoned to serve the warrant of arrest issued against him. The warrant was duly implemented, and the former senator was formally informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights,” the PNP statement read.
Revilla undertook standard booking and documentation procedures under the custody of the CIDG, including the required medical examination, in accordance with existing rules and protocols.
On Jan. 16, the Office of the Ombudsman filed malversation and graft charges against Revilla and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers allegedly involved in a scheme to receive kickbacks from public works projects in Pandi, Bulacan.
A hold departure order has likewise been issued against the accused.
Revilla’s co-accused are DPWH Bulacan district engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, Emelita Juat, and personnel Juanito Mendoza and Christina Pineda.
The project was awarded to the contractor last March when Revilla was still a senator.
DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, one of the state witnesses in the flood control scandal under the Department of Justice Witness Protection Program (DOJ-WPP), claimed he delivered P125 million to Revilla’s residence in 2024.
Bernardo said his staff delivered another P250 million before the 2025 elections in exchange for facilitating or endorsing flood control projects.
Revilla has denied the allegations. (PNA)
