Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Job Manahan

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/1772758301100HCr8LJybIAA4nzw_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Senator Bong Revilla, his other co-accused from the Bulacan 1st DEO arrive here at the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division for the pre-trial of their malversation case. <em>Job Manahan</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE) </strong>— The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Friday scheduled a 10-day bail hearing for the malversation case involving former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and other officials from the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) over an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/13/revilla-co-accused-in-flood-control-case-back-at-sandiganbayan-1211">Revilla, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO execs won’t enter plea bargain in graft case</a></div><p>The bail hearings will happen in the morning and afternoon of April 6, 7, 8, 10, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24, according to Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda.</p><p>Miranda said the bail hearings would not determine the final guilt of the accused, rather, it sought to determine whether or not the pieces of evidence against them are strong.</p><p>This would ultimately be the basis on whether or not the anti-graft court would grant their bail petition.</p><p>Revilla and his co-accused DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez, Engr. Emelita Juat, Engr. Arjay Domasig, Juanito Mendoza, and Christina Pineda had filed their bail petitions.</p><p>Engr. Jaypee Mendoza, for his part, did not file the said petition, with his legal counsel telling ABS-CBN News that they could file this anytime until the trial period.</p><p>The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division said it intends to resolve the bail petitions within 30 days from the first day of the bail hearings. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROSECUTION GRILLED ON WITNESSES </strong></div><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/17727695562871770960974302177071768574020260209-sandiganbayan-flood-control-case-revilla-MT1_cropped_processed_by_imagy.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Senator Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla Jr. arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Monday, February 9, 2026, for his scheduled arraignment. Revilla is joined by his co-accused in connection with graft and corruption charges linked to anomalous &quot;ghost  flood control projects&quot; in Bulacan. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News<br/></span></span></span></div><p>During the first day of the pre-trial, the prosecution said they would present 20 witnesses for the bail hearings alone. For the trial period, they intend to present 56 witnesses.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/16/ombudsman-files-graft-charges-vs-revilla-dpwh-execs-over-bulacan-flood-project-1632">Ombudsman files graft charges vs Revilla, DPWH execs over Bulacan flood project</a></div><p>Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno asked the prosecution who would be the first witnesses during the first dates of the bail hearing, but the latter refused to reveal the names. </p><p>Moreno questioned the prosecutors why they did not indicate in the list what dates they would present some of the witnesses, noting the number of witnesses for the bail hearings. </p><p>Later on, he said this goes against the wisdom and rationale of the bail hearings. </p><p>“You have to tell us who the witnesses would be for the said dates,” said Moreno. </p><p>“The purpose is to avoid surprises in the spirit of transparency,” he added. </p><p>But Deputy Special Prosecutor Omar Sagadal responded: “It is our humble submission that the sequence of the witnesses is also part of the prerogative of the prosecution.”</p><p>The associate justice instead asked Sagadal who among the 20 witnesses might possibly have the strongest testimony. </p><p>Sagadal responded they could possibly present an official from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – the complainant in the case – and accountants.</p><p>“The project is ghost and despite that, there were payments and these would be proven by accounting officials,” the prosecutor said.</p><p>“We just want to err on the safe side and not to unduly restrict our prosecutorial leeway,” he added. </p><p>Moreno said two witnesses could be presented daily – one in the morning hearing and the second in the afternoon. While the prosecution agreed, they told ABS-CBN News it was possible that one witness could take a stand for the whole morning and afternoon hearings.</p><p>Prosecutor Ma. Christina Marallag-Batacan told reporters they are ready for the trial, adding that they are confident with the statements and interviews made by the witnesses.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UNDAUNTED</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In an interview with the media, Revilla’s spokesperson Francesca Señga said while the malversation charge is non-bailable, according to the rules, if the defense could prove that the evidence of guilt is not strong, then “bail becomes a matter of right.” </p><p>“Ibig sabihin magiging karapatan na niya makalabas during the pendency of the case or habang tinutuloy ang trial ng main action. So ano ba ang kahulugan nito? Ibig sabihin, kailangan suriin kung malakas ba o mahina ang ebidensya ng guilt. Sino ang may burden nito? Ang prosecution,” said Señga. </p><p>“Ang nangyari nung isang araw, nag-file na sila ng petition for bail. Required yan, so automatic may hearing. Bakit may hearing? Sa hearing, doon natin kailangan ipakita ang ebidensya at doon mo makikita whether or not the evidence of guilt is strong or not,” she said. </p><p>Señga said knowing the witnesses is important ahead of the bail hearings given the time constraint of 30 days. </p><p>“Ang mangyayari diyan parang halos araw-araw ang hearing. Kaya ine-emphasize kanina na kailangan malaman sino ang mga testigo na ipe-present ng prosecution at ano ang order nila,” she added. </p><p>Señga said they are not daunted by the number of witnesses to be presented by the prosecution.</p><p>“Hindi nakasalalay sa number ng testigo yan, kahit magpresenta ka ng 100 o 500, 1,000 testigo, kung lahat ng testigo na yan ay walang personal na knowledge o walang alam o kumbaga sa tinatawag natin sa rules of evidence – walang credibility or probative value, hindi kapani-paniwala ang sinasabi nila… wala pa ring masamang epekto yun,” Señga told reporters.</p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><br/><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/hSoIiXR4omo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><strong></strong><em><strong></strong></em><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/MVAH0E9iJ18?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/Rgl40BdKe2Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The case stemmed from an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.</p>

The case stemmed from an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Sandiganbayan sets bail hearings for Revilla, Bulacan officials’ malversation case

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Sandiganbayan sets bail hearings for Revilla, Bulacan officials’ malversation case

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 06, 2026 08:53 AM PHT

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Updated March 06, 2026 03:51 PM PHT

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Bong Revilla

sandiganbayan

dpwh

flood control

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