Geline Salac

Revilla appears before Sandiganbayan after surrender

Article (news)

Jamaine Punzalan

Karen De Guzman

Kaxandra Salonga

<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:493px;height:612px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2013436954348576869&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-01-20T00%3A13%3A35.942134%3A7863499e-ac16-465c-8a53-4f5ea262a4ab%26action%3Dcorrect&amp;sessionId=66cde3214a1471fe2590a4d06669db94fde2c7a6&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2013436954348576869"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>MANILA — Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. appeared Tuesday before the Sandiganbayan, which ordered his commitment to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas. </p><p>Revilla <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/bong-revilla-surrenders-amid-arrest-warrant-over-ghost-flood-control-project-2208">surrendered</a> at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, the same day that the Sandiganbayan<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/sandiganbayan-releases-arrest-warrants-for-revilla-6-dpwh-bulacan-officials-1838"> issued an arrest warrant </a>against him for graft and malversation. </p><p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla accompanied Revilla to the anti-graft court. </p><p>“Sila (Sandiganbayan) ang magdedesisyon kung naan siya idi-detain… Wala na po sa kamay namin yun,” Remulla said in a press briefing. </p><p>“Malungkot siya. Pero ang sabi ko na lang, we’ll do the best we can. Ako personally ang maghahatid sa kanya sa Sandiganbayan at pagdating doon, iha-hand over ko siya sa officer of the court, sila na ang bahala,” the official said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/bong-revilla-to-be-detained-at-qc-jail-1409">Bong Revilla to be detained at QC jail</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/jonvic-being-friends-with-revilla-won-t-lead-to-special-treatment-1349">Jonvic: Being &#x27;friends&#x27; with Revilla won&#x27;t lead to special treatment</a></div><div><iframe width="729" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lw1Xn8l2Ahs" title="LIVE: DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla holds press briefing | January 20" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>The cases against Revilla and six former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office stemmed from an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.</p><p>Five of Revilla&#x27;s co-accused have been arrested, while a manhunt was ongoing for Emelita Juat, Remulla said.</p><p>According to the prosecution, the respondents allegedly conspired to facilitate the release of P76 million for the construction of a P92.8-million flood control project that was declared completed but never implemented based on inspection and witness accounts.</p><p>The respondents allegedly falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents, and endorsed disbursement vouchers. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/nbi-arrests-former-dpwh-bulacan-officials-brice-hernandez-jaypee-mendoza-2039">NBI arrests Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control project</a></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:493px;height:636px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2013432277036908895&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-01-20T00%3A13%3A35.942134%3A7863499e-ac16-465c-8a53-4f5ea262a4ab%26action%3Dcorrect&amp;sessionId=66cde3214a1471fe2590a4d06669db94fde2c7a6&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2013432277036908895"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘KATOTOHANAN ANG MANANAIG’  </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Revilla’s son Cavite Third District Rep. Jolo Revilla said his father’s surrender was “a deliberate step to confront the accusations head-on and to affirm his faith in our legal institutions.” </p><p>“Hindi ito pag-iwas, kundi pagharap. He believes that the proper place to resolve these issues is inside the courtroom, where facts matter and the law speaks louder than speculation,” the younger Revilla said. </p><p>He called for “fair treatment under the law, fair judgment based on evidence, and fairness in public discourse that refrains from trial by publicity.” </p><p>“I therefore ask the public and the media to allow the justice system to work—without pressure, noise, or premature conclusions,” he added. </p><p>“Nagpapasalamat kami sa patuloy na panalangin at malasakit ng mga taong nananatiling naniniwala sa patas at makatarungang paglilitis. Sa huli, naniniwala kami na ang katotohanan ang mananaig,”</p><p>In a separate video statement on Monday, the elder Revilla lamented the seeming lack of due process but said he would face the charges. </p><p>“Nakatanggap po kami ng impormasyon na lumabas po ang aking warrant of arrest. Nakakalungkot po, parang wala po yatang due process,” he said.</p><p>“Pero gayun pa man, haharapin ko ito ng walang takot. At alam kong hindi ako papabayaan ng Diyos dahil wala akong kasalanan dito,” Revilla said.</p><p>Revilla, who was previously acquitted of plunder charges in relation to the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), was tagged in the flood control mess after former DPWH Usec. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/15/contractor-3-ex-dpwh-officials-now-state-witnesses-in-flood-control-cases-1438">Roberto Bernardo</a> made allegations that he received kickbacks in exchange for endorsing flood control projects.</p><div><a 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><iframe width="729" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwIzIssZiaI" title="Bong Revilla sumuko na sa Camp Crame | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <iframe width="830" height="467" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XgyI2Tre7yU" title="&#x27;Wala akong kasalanan dito&#x27;: Bong Revilla on arrest warrant | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. appeared before the Sandiganbayan for processing on Tuesday, a day after the release of a warrant of arrest in his criminal cases tied to the flood control corruption scandal.</p>

Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. appeared before the Sandiganbayan for processing on Tuesday, a day after the release of a warrant of arrest in his criminal cases tied to the flood control corruption scandal.