Bong Revilla granted bail in P92.8-M flood control case

The Sandiganbayan has granted the bail petition of former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in the malversation case involving the alleged ghost P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. This was confirmed by Sandiganbayan Third Division Clerk of Court Atty. Dennis Pulma on Friday. “In its Resolution, the Court granted the bail application of accused Ramon Bautista 'Bong' Revilla Jr. 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,” the Sandiganbayan said in a statement. “Thus, the Court ordered the provisional release of accused Revilla upon posting of the required cash bond, unless he is being held for some other legal ground,” it added. The Sandiganbayan set Revilla’s cash bond at P1 million. The anti-graft court, however, denied the bail petitions of Revilla’s co-accused in the case: "The Court denied the respective bail applications of accused Brice Ericson Diaz Hernandez, Jaypee De Leon Mendoza, Arjay Salvador Domasig, Emelita Capistrano Juat, Juanito Coronel Mendoza, and Christina Mae Del Rosario Pineda on account of the strong evidence of their guilt as to the charge of malversation through falsification of public documents,” the anti-graft court said. Ombudsman prosecutors alleged that Revilla and his six co-accused, who were former DPWH officials in Bulacan, declared the project completed despite the absence of actual construction. They further alleged that the accused falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents, and endorsed disbursement vouchers to facilitate the release of the project’s full cost. A court inspection of the site revealed that no physical structure had been built for the flood control project. Revilla earlier posted P90,000 bail before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in connection with the graft charge filed against him. The former senator is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas. –VBL, GMA News