Dennis Gasgonia

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Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - The Sandiganbayan denied the bid of former senator Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla, Jr. to be transferred to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.</p><p>In a resolution promulgated on Feb. 5, the anti-graft court’s Third Division ruled that Revilla will remain at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas for his trial on charges of Malversation through Falsification of Public Documents over an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.</p><p>Revilla earlier cited security concerns over gang-related violence in the Quezon City Jail in Payatas, where he is detained along with other co-accused officials of DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office </p><p>The prosecution argued that Revilla’s claim of risks and potential harm was based on “sheer conjecture, guesswork, and speculation.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/4/lacson-stands-by-draft-committee-report-to-charge-senators-over-flood-control-mess-1446"><strong>Lacson stands by draft committee report to charge senators over flood control mess </strong></a> </div><p>In denying the motion, the court cited the testimony of Jail Superintendent Maria Lourdes Pacion, who said the Payatas facility is safe, uncongested, and equipped with specialized security measures for high-profile detainees. </p><p>It also took into account a January 6 letter from then acting PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., urging the anti-graft court to reconsider commitment orders to the PNP Custodial Center.</p><p>In the letter, Nartatez said the facility is intended only as a temporary holding area and that the continued commitment of detainees there is “burdensome” for the PNP. </p><p>The court further noted that detention in a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility allows accused persons to earn good conduct time allowance, or GCTA, that may shorten any eventual sentence unlike in police custodial centers.</p><p>“The commitment and continued detention of the accused in the Quezon City Jail is not only imperative by law and procedural rules, but also signals the start of computation of time allowances to which they may be granted,” the resolution penned by Associate Justice Karl Miranda read. </p><p>It also denied the motion to commit co-accused DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO Engineer Emelita Juat to the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, which Associate Justice Miranda earlier commented could affect her timely attendance at hearings.</p><div><strong>OMNIBUS MOTIONS DENIED</strong></div><p>The court also rejected Revilla’s motion to quash the information, denying his camp’s claim that the malversation charge went beyond the scope of the initial graft investigation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/23/supporters-defend-revilla-amid-new-corruption-case-1413"><strong>&#x27;Mayaman naman sila&#x27;: Supporters defend Revilla amid new corruption case</strong></a></div><p>It said the Office of the Ombudsman has the authority to determine which offense to charge based on the facts established during its probe. </p><p>“The absence or presence of conspiracy is factual in nature and involves evidentiary matter. Hence, the allegation of conspiracy is better left ventilated during trial,” the resolution read.</p><p>The court further said Revilla’s bid to file a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Ombudsman was “futile and without merit,” because the Information had already been filed in court. </p><p>It noted that Revilla had five days under the Ombudsman’s Rules of Procedure to file such a motion upon knowing of the filing as early as January 23.</p><p>“Considering the present detention of the accused for a non-bailable offense and lack of any compelling reason or exceptional circumstance, the court finds no basis to grant leave of court for the filing of a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman,” it read.</p><p>The court also denied Revilla’s motion for reinvestigation, saying he was not deprived of due process since he had already participated in the preliminary investigation and filed counter-affidavits.</p><p>It also dismissed the claim that the former senator’s arrest warrant was &quot;precipitately issued,&quot; noting that judges have discretion to issue warrants following their assessment of the prosecutor&#x27;s resolution and supporting evidence.</p><p>Moreover, the former senator’s motion to defer the issuance of warrant of arrest was also declared moot since the warrants had already been issued and the accused are already in custody.</p><div><strong>NO CONSOLIDATION OF CASES</strong></div><p>The Sandiganbayan also denied accused Juanito Mendoza’s bid to consolidate the malversation case with the graft case pending before the Fourth Division. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/21/bong-revilla-tried-but-failed-to-bring-clothes-gadgets-into-qc-jail-bjmp-1227"><strong>Bong Revilla tried but failed to bring clothes, gadgets into QC Jail: BJMP</strong></a></div><p>The court said merging the cases would only &quot;muddle the issues&quot; and create &quot;disarray&quot; in the proceedings.</p><p>Revilla’s counsel, Atty. Ramon Esguerra, said the defense team will review possible legal remedies.</p><div><strong>REVILLA, OTHERS TO BE ARRAIGNED</strong></div><p>Revilla is set to be arraigned on Feb. 9, along with Engr. Arjay Domasig and Juanito Mendoza. All accused are also scheduled to be arraigned on the same day on malversation charges.</p><p>DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez, Engr. Jaypee Mendoza, Engr. Emelita Juat and Christina Pineda earlier pleaded not guilty for their graft charges.</p><p>Revilla was tagged in the flood control mess after former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo claimed he received kickbacks in exchange for endorsing flood control projects.</p><p>The prosecution alleged the respondents connived to divert P76 million funds for the construction of the project, which was never implemented despite being declared completed.</p><p>Revilla was previously acquitted of plunder charges over the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).</p><div><br/></div><div>  </div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan denied the bid of former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. to be transferred to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.</p>

The Sandiganbayan denied the bid of former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. to be transferred to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

Sandiganbayan rejects Bong Revilla’s bid to be detained in Camp Crame

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Sandiganbayan rejects Bong Revilla’s bid to be detained in Camp Crame

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 05, 2026 05:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

flood control

Bulacan

Revilla

Brice Hernandez

Jaypee Mendoza

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