Bong Revilla posts P1-M bail, walks free in corruption case

Former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. has posted a P1-million cash bond before the Sandiganbayan, securing his temporary liberty after the anti-graft court granted his petition for bail in a malversation case. The case involves a P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, which was discovered to be an empty lot with no physical structure. The Sandiganbayan, in its order, stated that "The accused, Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., in the above-entitled case has posted his cash bail bond, in the amount of P1 million... which is duly approved by this Court, is allowed provisional liberty in connection with this case. So ordered." The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed Revilla's release from the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory at 6:14 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2026, following the court's release order. In granting Revilla's bail petition, the Sandiganbayan cited "for failure of the prosecution to establish that the evidence of his guilt is strong, insofar as it pertains to the charge of malversation through falsification of public documents." Conversely, the court denied similar bail pleas from his co-accused, citing "strong evidence of their guilt as to the charge of malversation through falsification of public documents." Revilla's legal counsel and spokesperson, Rean Balisi, expressed his client's pleasure with the decision. "From the beginning, former Sen. Bong Revilla placed his trust in the judicial system. This resolution of the Court to grant him bail affirms the truth that the evidence of guilt is not strong," Balisi said in a statement. He added that Revilla is "thankful and elated" and will be "spending time with his family whom he has been apart from for the last 6 months." Speaking to reporters, Revilla's counsel Isaiah Asuncion III argued that the ruling proves the prosecution failed to substantiate their allegations. "The prosecution failed to prove that they have strong evidence of the guilt of Senator Revilla. For those who observed the trial, they would know that almost all prosecution witnesses said they have no personal knowledge of the alleged participation of Senator Revilla," Asuncion said. He further elaborated, "This means that the court cannot rely on hearsay alone. There is no document or anything of that sort showing that Senator Revilla, indeed, facilitated the funding for that project. No link." Malacañang, through Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, stated that it "respects the resolution of Sandiganbayan granting Revilla's bail petition." Castro acknowledged that such matters are within the court's purview and emphasized that "the rule of law and due process must always prevail." The Office of the Ombudsman, however, maintained its stance, stating, "The Office of the Ombudsman, while it respects the orders and decisions of the Sandiganbayan, must stand by its own investigation and work." The Ombudsman added, "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." Revilla had previously posted a P90,000 bail before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in connection with a separate graft charge filed against him. — VDV, GMA News