How Bong Revilla had his name placed high up on the ballot

Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, who's seeking another term as senator in the 2025 midterm elections, has created buzz online as his name was placed high up on the ballot.

Many have questioned why someone whose surname starts with "R" is among the "B" candidates, never mind that the names must be in alphabetical order.

But, legally speaking, there's nothing wrong with the actor-politician's ballot placement as Bong Revilla is his surname.

He was born Jose Mari Mortel Bautista Jr. to Jose Acuña Bautista Sr. (better known as Ramon Revilla) and Azucena Mortel.

He used the screen name Bong Revilla as he began his showbiz career in the '80s.

Just like other Filipino celebrities, he took his stab at politics not long after. He became Cavite vice governor from 1995 to 1998, and governor from 1998 to 2001. He also served as chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board (now Optical Media Board) from 2002 to 2004.

He tried his chances at the Senate in 2004 and won. He sought reelection in 2010 and won again, even topping the polls.

Surname change

What was attributed to that feat was his stratagem a year before that, when he asked the courts to have his surname changed.

At the time, the country was about to have its first-ever automated elections, the first in Southeast Asia, departing from manually writing names on blank spaces. Candidates' names would appear on the ballot alphabetically and voters had to simply shade ovals corresponding to their bets.

His new legal name: Ramon Jr. Bautista Bong Revilla. His name on the ballot: Bong Revilla, Ramon Jr.

In February 2010, his lawyer George Garcia—who's now the chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)—said Cavite Regional Trial Court Branch 19 had approved "Bong Revilla" as his registered family name on Oct. 19, 2009.

"It is perfectly legal," Garcia said, adding that even his client's birth certificate has been corrected.

'May RTC decision po'

This 2025, the reelectionist senator's name will appear as "Bong Revilla, Ramon Jr." on the ballot as candidate No. 11.

As the surname issue came to light again, Garcia reiterated to reporters the Cavite court ruling in 2009.

“May RTC decision po ng 2009 granting his petition to change name," he said, adding that the Office of the Solicitor General didn't oppose the decision.

Disqualification case

The controversial Bong Revilla surname has led to quarters pursuing legal action.

In 2010, a certain Marie Feji filed a disqualification case against the reelectionist senator, saying he committed material representation in his certificate of candidacy by using Bong Revilla to put his name on top of the list of senatorial candidates.

The Comelec Second Division junked the petition due to lack of merit in 2010, citing the lower court's 2009 ruling.

In a statement at that time, Bong Revilla expressed elation toward the junking of the "nuisance" case against him.

"I was confident that the disqualification case filed against me will be dismissed," he said. "I cannot be accused of misrepresenting because my legal name is supported by the court."

Garcia at the time also said that his client was "fully aware of the downside of his surname change, especially to members of his family."

Bong Coo controversy

Before the name change brouhaha, Revilla in 2004 ran against a namesake, champion bowler Olivia "Bong" Coo.

According to a The Philippine STAR report, Coo listed "Bong" as her nickname in her certificate of candidacy, while Revilla used "Kap," the character he played in the sitcom Idol Ko si Kap.

At the time, Revilla had registered his surname as "Bong Revilla" and "Ramon Jr." as his first name.

But Comelec, on its Resolution No. 6657, ruled that all "Bong" votes would go to Coo.

Coo then accused the administration of threatening her and her family after refusing to give up the nickname "Bong." She alleged Revilla of personally asking her to back out of the senatorial race in exchange for P20 million. She also recalled getting a call from a man, who introduced himself as a member of the Presidential Security Group, saying he would harm her and her family if she didn't back out. She even claimed receiving an offer for presidential adviser for sports if she'd withdraw from the polls.

In response, Revilla argued it was Coo who demanded the P20 million from him, according to a STAR report. She also allegedly asked him for a Ford F-150 van, the chairmanship of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and a presidential medal of honor for her bowling achievements.

Ultimately, Revilla was able to change his nickname to Bong upon Comelec's approval in its Resolution No. 6713. Coo's camp called it illegal, saying Comelec didn't notify them beforehand.

Coo filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC), accusing Comelec of committing grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction. The SC, however, dismissed her petition.

Revilla emerged as the second leading candidate with 15.8 million votes, or 44.50%, after Mar Roxas, with 19.3 million votes or 54.56%.

Coo, meanwhile, got 338,846 votes, or 0.95%. In 2022, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. appointed her as PSC commissioner following a short stint as officer-in-charge.

Revilla is vying for a Senate seat again in the midterm elections on May 12. Overseas Filipinos may vote from April 13 to May 12, while local absentees—AFP, the Philippine National Police, and media practitioners—may vote from April 28 to 30.

According to Comelec, there will be a total of 18,272 national and local political positions in the 2025 elections, which is an increase of 200 positions compared to the 2022 polls.