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Former Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Photos by Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB and Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

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/1768887088666composites 2 (1) (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Former Sen. Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Photos by Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB and Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Sen. Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. <em>Photos by Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB and Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday assured the public that there would be no special treatment following the surrender of former Sen. Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla Jr. in connection with a malversation case involving an alleged &quot;ghost&quot; flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.</p><p>Remulla said Revilla, whom he described as a long-time friend, personally called him after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest on Monday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/revilla-sandiganbayan-arrest-surrender-flood-control-jail-1000">Revilla appears before Sandiganbayan after surrender</a></div><p>According to Remulla, he advised the former senator to voluntarily surrender to authorities.</p><p>&quot;Matagal kaming magkasama ni Senator Bong sa Cavite. We&#x27;ve been lifelong friends ever since the 1980s. But duty calls; there are no exceptions to the rule,&quot; Remulla said. </p><p>&quot;Pag sinabi ng Sandiganbayan to arrest him, ang best ko nang magagawa is to advise him to surrender peacefully.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/curlee-discaya-says-he-felt-robbed-when-asked-to-restitute-0705">Curlee Discaya says he felt &#x27;robbed&#x27; when asked to restitute</a></div><p>He stressed that Revilla would be treated like any other accused facing criminal charges.</p><p>&quot;I assure you, walang magiging special treatment doon,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SURRENDER OF FIREARMS</strong></div><p>Following Revilla’s surrender, authorities also required him to turn over his firearms for proper disposition.</p><p>Remulla explained that Revilla is no longer entitled to possess firearms since he will be under detention.</p><p>“Kasi he is no longer entitled to own and operate the firearm. Kung hindi niya i-surrender kasi ‘yan, in danger siya sa mga raids sa loose firearms,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/nbi-arrests-former-dpwh-bulacan-officials-brice-hernandez-jaypee-mendoza-2039">NBI arrests former DPWH-Bulacan officials Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control project</a></div><p>Remulla also noted that the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial facility is currently undergoing renovation, leaving the decision on Revilla’s place of detention to the anti-graft court.</p><p>At present, six of the seven accused in the case of malversation through falsification of public documents are already in custody.</p><p>Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, and Juanito Mendoza are detained by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), while Revilla and Christina Mae Pineda are under the custody of the PNP.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PNP TELLS OTHER SUSPECTS TO ALSO SURRENDER</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, acting PNP chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. called on high-profile personalities and all individuals facing criminal charges to follow Revilla’s example by respecting the legal process.</p><p>Nartatez said Revilla surrendered to the PNP at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday evening, accompanied by his family and legal counsel, shortly after the arrest warrant was issued by the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>“The Philippine National Police has been accommodating to all those who respect the rule of law and the legal process, but is tough against those who defy and disrespect them,” Nartatez said in a statement.</p><p>Nartatez also ordered police units to continue serving arrest warrants against Revilla’s co-accused, who remain at large.</p><p>“We encourage the other co-accused and all the fugitives to surrender and face the charges against them. Surrender is always a good choice but in case they choose to hide, then we will find them.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ON_DWv_oBA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla assured the public that there would be no special treatment following the surrender of former Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in connection with a malversation case involving an alleged "ghost" flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.</p>

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla assured the public that there would be no special treatment following the surrender of former Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in connection with a malversation case involving an alleged "ghost" flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Jonvic: Being 'lifelong friends' with Revilla won't lead to special treatment

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Jonvic: Being 'lifelong friends' with Revilla won't lead to special treatment

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 20, 2026 01:49 PM PHT

Read More:

Bong Revilla

Jonvic Remulla

Flood Control

Flood Control Scandal

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