Bong Revilla to be detained at Quezon City Jail over flood control case

MANILA, Philippines – Former senator Bong Revilla, who’s charged over a P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Bulacan, will be detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered on Tuesday, January 20.

Revilla surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Monday, January 19, and spent the night under police custody.

He is facing a non-bailable malversation case and a graft charge filed by the Office of the Ombudsman last week. The Ombudsman said Revilla and Department of Public Works and Highways officials in Bulacan allegedly conspired to facilitate the release of P76 million from the project, which was never implemented. 

On Tuesday, Revilla faced the Sandiganbayan Third Division, chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda, for the return of his warrant on the malversation case.

Revilla’s counsel asked the court to hold the former senator inside Camp Crame, citing perceived violence at the mail dormitory. However, the jail chief, Jail Superintendent Maria Lourdes Pacion, refuted this, explaining that there’s no history of gang-related violence in the said facility.

However, the division took note of PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez’s letter to the Sandiganbayan, asking the tribunal to refrain from placing Revilla under the PNP Custodial Center. Nartatez cited financial and manpower concerns, explaining that their facilities house high-risk suspects.

Earlier, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla told Rappler that the PNP Custodial Center is also closed for demolition.

After discussions, the anti-graft court’s Third Division decided to place the former senator at the detention facility designated by the DILG for flood control-related cases.

The arraignment for Revilla’s malversation case is set on Friday, January 23, where the former senator will plead either guilty or not guilty in his case. On the said date, the court will also hear other motions to be filed by Revilla’s camp, including their motion to transfer the former senator’s custody.

On Tuesday, Revilla also posted a P90,000 bail for his graft case. This charge is pending with the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi.

However, despite this bail, Revilla will still be jailed because his malversation case is non-bailable. – Rappler.com