The Sandiganbayan has ordered the detention of former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory located in Barangay Payatas. This development follows the issuance of an arrest warrant against him and six other individuals in connection with a multi-million peso ghost project.
Surrender and Arrest Details
Revilla surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the evening of Monday, January 19, 2026. His surrender came just hours after the anti-graft court issued the warrant for his arrest. The charges stem from alleged irregularities in a P92.8 million ghost flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan. The specific accusations include graft and malversation of public funds through the falsification of public documents.
From Camp Crame, Revilla was transported to the Sandiganbayan. Notably, he was escorted by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who used his official vehicle for the purpose. Secretary Remulla described Revilla as his "long-time friend."
Bail and Previous Legal Troubles
For the graft charges, Revilla was able to post bail set at P90,000. Concurrently, his legal team filed a motion requesting that his place of detention be transferred from the Quezon City Jail to the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame.
This is not the first time the former lawmaker has faced incarceration for corruption allegations. Revilla was previously jailed from June 2014 to December 2018 over plunder and graft charges related to the infamous Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam. In that case, he was accused of amassing P224.5 million in kickbacks from fake PDAF projects. During that period, he was held at the PNP Custodial Center, which is currently reported to be undergoing renovation.
Current Status and Implications
The latest case reinforces the ongoing legal battles faced by politicians implicated in the PDAF scam. The detention order by the Sandiganbayan signifies the court's move to proceed with the new set of charges independently from his previous acquittal in the plunder case. The focus now is on the alleged ghost project in Bulacan, which purportedly siphoned off millions intended for public infrastructure.
As the judicial process unfolds, the public and media scrutiny remain high, highlighting continued efforts to address corruption and malversation of public funds in the country. The case serves as a critical test for the Philippine justice system in handling high-profile corruption allegations.
