Bong Revilla granted bail by Sandiganbayan in malversation case

MANILA, Philippines — The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan granted the bail request of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., the court’s 3rd Division confirmed on Friday, July 31. The anti-graft court’s 3rd Division chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda granted Revilla’s bail in a resolution made public on Friday. This is a case related to the P92.8-million alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. “Grant the bail application of accused Ramon Bautista ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr. for failure of the prosecution to establish strong evidence of guilt, insofar as it pertains to the charge of malversation through falsification of public documents, during the bail hearings and in view of existing jurisprudence,” read part of the resolution. “Order the provisional release of accused Ramon Bautista “Bong” Revilla, Jr. upon posting of a cash bond of Php1,000,000.00 in line with the ruling in Enrile v. Sandiganbayan (Third Division) unless he is being held for some other legal ground,” it added. Revilla and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, including former engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, were charged in January with graft and malversation over the alleged ghost project. The graft case is pending with the Sandiganbayan’s 4th Division, while the malversation case is with the 3rd Division. Since Revilla’s other case is bailable, he will be released from detention once he posts bail. Upon his arrest in January, Revilla posted bail for graft, but he remained detained because the other case for malversation is non-bailable. For non-bailable charges, an accused may file a petition for bail like in Revilla’s case. Must Read Bong Revilla’s return to Sandiganbayan: From pork barrel to flood control Revilla and the former DPWH officials were indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly conspiring to release P76 million from the P92.8-million Bulacan flood project that was never implemented. Prior to the indictment, state witness and former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara claimed that Revilla had P300 million in budget insertions in 2024. These were for flood control projects in Bulacan. Another state witness, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, had alleged that Revilla received kickbacks from flood control projects. Apart from admitting that he personally delivered money to Revilla’s residence in Cavite, Bernardo also said Revilla’s “commitment” or alleged kickback was at 25%. — Rappler.com