Former Senator Bong Revilla has surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) after the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against him on Monday, January 19, on the non-bailable charge of malversation related to a P92.8 million flood control corruption case in Pandi, Bulacan.
This is not the first time Revilla has surrendered to authorities due to corruption allegations. In June 2014, Revilla surrendered to the Sandiganbayan after the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict him and fellow senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada of plunder in the 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
He was later acquitted of plunder in 2018 and 16 counts of graft in 2021. The Bulacan flood control case, however, brings the former Senate Public Works Committee chair back to the PNP’s headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
In a press conference on Tuesday, January 20, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that Revilla also surrendered 21 firearms when he placed himself in police custody.
Remulla said authorities are eyeing different facilities for Revilla’s detainment. According to the interior secretary, the PNP Custodial Center, where the ex-senator was last detained, will be demolished soon to set up a new headquarters. The DILG has recommended facilities in Payatas, Camp Karingal, and Bicutan.
Five of his co-accused are currently in custody, including Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan officials Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, Juanito Mendoza, and Christina Pineda. DPWH Project Engineer Emelita Capistrano Juat remains at-large.
