Bong Revilla released after posting P1 million bail in ghost project case
Former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla has been temporarily released after posting bail of P1 million over his P92.8 million malversation case linked to alleged ghost projects.
In a 107-page resolution issued Friday, July 31, the anti-graft court approved Revilla's bail petition, fixing bail at P1 million and directing his provisional release after posting the cash bond, provided he is not being detained for another legal reason.
"In his Petition and Memorandum, accused Revilla contends that the evidence of his guilt is not strong as the prosecution failed to prove that he committed the acts alleged against him in the information, in furtherance of an alleged conspiracy to commit the crime charged," the resolution read.
The court said the prosecution failed to prove that Revilla had any role in securing the project's inclusion in the 2025 General Appropriations Act or that he received kickbacks, commissions, or any share of the project's funds.
The resolution granting Revilla's bail also noted his argument that he is not a flight risk, pointing to his voluntary surrender, continued stay in the country, public disclosure of his whereabouts, and active participation in court proceedings, including his previous plunder case that ended in his acquittal.
Following his release, he posted a photo of with his family.
"God is good! Salamat po Panginoon," he wrote.
On the other hand, the Sandiganbayan Third Division denied the bail petitions of the following co-accused after finding that the evidence of guilt against them was strong.
- Engr. Brice Hernandez
- Engr. Jaypee Mendoza
- Engr. Arjay Domasig
- Engr. Emelita Juat
- DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office Finance Section Chief Juanito Mendoza
- DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office cashier Christina Pineda
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman said it will proceed with its probe regarding the case.
"The Office of the Ombudsman, while it respects the orders and decisions of the Sandiganbayan, must stand by its own investigation and work,” said Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano in a statement.
“We will exhaust all remedies to highlight the basis for which we can say that evidence of guilt is indeed strong against former Senator Ramon 'Bong' Revilla,” he added.
Revilla was implicated in the malversation case after former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo identified him as one of the alleged recipients of kickbacks from flood control projects.
Prosecutors later accused him and his co-accused of conspiring to facilitate the release of around P76 million for a flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan that investigators said was never implemented despite being declared complete.
Revilla denied the allegations, calling himself "an easy target being used to muddle the truth."
He voluntarily surrendered in January. He previously posted P90,000 bail before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division for his graft charge but remained in detention as the malversation case is non-bailable.
