Jamaine Punzalan

Senator Bong Revilla speaks during his father former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr.’s necrological service at the Senate on July 1, 2020. Alex Nueva España, Senate PRIB/File

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176888906468820200701-revilla-senate-necro-service-HO-7032.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Bong Revilla speaks during his father former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr.’s necrological service at the Senate on July 1, 2020. Alex Nueva España, Senate PRIB/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was detained Tuesday at the Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas as he fought a malversation case over an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Bulacan.</p><p>Revilla will be temporarily detained at the jail’s male dormitory, pending the Sandiganbayan’s action on his motion to be transferred to the PNP custodial facility in Camp Crame.</p><p>The embattled former lawmaker arrived aboard a jail van, accompanied by his family and lawyers, under heavy escort by personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.</p><p>“Siyempre nalulungkot kami, pero nirerespeto namin ‘yung mga institution. And ‘yun na lang muna,” the congressman said.</p><p>Speaking to reporters, Revilla’s spokesperson, Atty. Francesca Señga, cited supposed “gang-related activities” in some confinements in discussing the former lawmaker’s safety.</p><p>“You know, maybe the courts could take judicial notice that there have been a lot of gang-related activities in certain confinements – that if he would be placed there without the proper protection, he would be placed at dire risk,” Señga said.</p><p>BJMP spokesperson Jail Superintendent Jayrex Joseph Bustinera said Revilla would initially be isolated from other inmates as part of standard health protocols for new detainees.</p><p>He will eventually be placed in a detention cell with six male officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa, who were earlier jailed and housed in the male dormitory in connection with an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. One other official is detained in the female dormitory.</p><p>“Sine-segregate muna sa general population then after pre-observation, medical test and classification, risk assessment, saka siya ihahalo,” Bustinera said.</p><p>“Meron po tayong medical quarantine na tinatawag,” he noted. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/revilla-says-to-face-untrue-kickback-claims-head-on-1046">Revilla says to face ‘untrue’ kickback claims ‘head-on’</a></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F702008592848120%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Each detention cell can accommodate up to 10 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). The cells are furnished with at least five bunk beds, a toilet, a shower, a sink, and running water. While there is no air conditioning, the rooms are ventilated with ceiling fans.</p><p>Bustinera said Revilla would not be given any special treatment and would receive a daily food allowance of P100, the same as other detainees.</p><p>The male dormitory where Revilla will eventually be mixed currently houses 3,612 persons deprived of liberty. </p><p>“Bawal at hindi puwedeng magkaroon ng VIP treatment kahit kaninong PDL man ‘yan,” Bustinera said. </p><p>The facility also has an infirmary to address the medical needs of detainees. Other amenities include a sunning area, basketball court, receiving area, and a chapel.</p><p>Located about 10 kilometers from the Sandiganbayan, the Quezon City Jail is considered more practical for court proceedings.</p><p>“Nakapagdagdag na tayo ng empleyado, may mga bakanteng selda pa tayo. At the same time, may mga additional security measures na tayo kasi may mga preemptive preparations na prior to this,” Bustinera said. </p><p>Associate Justice Karl Miranda earlier Tuesday said that in a letter dated Jan. 6, Acting PNP Chief PLtGen. Jose Nartatez told the court that its custodial facility in Camp Crame was short on financial and manpower resources.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/security-tightened-at-camp-crame-following-bong-revilla-s-surrender-0702">Security tightened at Camp Crame following Bong Revilla&#x27;s surrender</a></div><p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also noted that the custodial facility at Camp Crame was undergoing renovation.</p><p>While Revilla remained mum when asked by the media for a statement, Remulla opened up about Revilla’s disposition.</p><p>“Siyempre walang masaya sa panahon na ganito, ‘di ba? Pero ang huling sabi niya bago bumaba ng kotse, sabi niya, ‘Lalaban ako, lalaban ako,’” Remulla said.</p><p>Revilla earlier Tuesday posted a P90,000 bail at the court’s Fourth Division, which handles his graft case.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/palace-bong-revilla-case-shows-no-sacred-cows-in-flood-control-scandal-1339">Palace: Bong Revilla’s surrender shows no sacred cows in flood control scandal</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CAVITEÑOS SHOW SUPPORT </strong></div><p>Crowds of Revilla’s supporters coming all the way from Cavite were seen at the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday morning.</p><p>They estimated more than 200 supporters came to the anti-graft court, gathering as early as 5 a.m.</p><p>Insisting on the former senator’s innocence, some of the individuals cited Revilla’s voluntary surrender.</p><p>“Manipestasyon po ito ng pagpapakita na wala pong itinatago, wala pong kasalanan,” Mark Duller, a Cavite resident, said.</p><p>“Nais ipakita ng Caviteño na kami ay hindi naniniwala na nagkasala si Senator Bong sa taong bayan… Estimated nasa 200 plus kami,” another supporter, Nhora Diloy, said.</p><p>Four of his co-accused, including former Bulacan First District Engineering Office officials Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, and Juanito Mendoza also appeared at the graft court and were committed to the jail in Payatas.</p><p>The pre-trial and arraignment of all accused will be conducted on Jan. 23.</p><p>The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the arrest warrants and hold departure orders against Revilla and six officials from DPWH Bulacan 1st District DEO charged with malversation over the ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.</p><div><strong>— With reports from Kaxandra Salonga and Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News   </strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="729" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v1IdxLFkC24" title="Remulla: Walang special treatment para sa &#x27;matagal nang kaibigang&#x27; si Revilla | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was detained Tuesday at the Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas as he fought a malversation case over an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Bulacan.</p>

Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was detained Tuesday at the Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas as he fought a malversation case over an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Bulacan.

Bong Revilla detained at QC Jail

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Bong Revilla detained at QC Jail

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 20, 2026 02:09 PM PHT

|

Updated January 20, 2026 07:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Bong Revilla

Sandiganbayan

flood control

budget insertion

kickback

DPWH

ghost project

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