MANILA, Philippines – The alleged irregularities in the Bulacan flood control project that triggered the graft and malversation cases against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials took the spotlight at the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, April 7.

During the Sandiganbayan 4th Division’s hearing on Revilla’s graft case, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Ivan Bernard Samson explained their findings on the P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Samson said when the NBI inspected the Bulacan construction site, they only saw “capping” or a minimal amount of concrete attached to sheet piles. The inspectors also saw “minimal soil embankment” in the area.

On Monday, April 6, the NBI agent had also testified that the Bulacan project was declared 95% complete in just 21 days.

“The capping is very minimal. It’s just a very minor part…. It’s just a small part of the sheet pile…. It’s very minor, actually. Not 95%, definitely not 95%,” the prosecution team told reporters after the Tuesday hearing. “It (the project) was inspected in September, October, it was almost nothing.”

When the Office of the Ombudsman filed the graft and malversation cases against Revilla and his co-accused due to the Bulacan project last January, the office said the accused allegedly conspired to facilitate the release of P76 million from the project that “was never implemented.”

“Despite the absence of any actual construction, the respondents declared the project completed. Thereafter, to facilitate the release of the entire project cost, the respondents are found to have falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents, and endorsed disbursement vouchers,” the Ombudsman had said on January 16.

The lawyers of Revilla’s fellow accused, including former engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, questioned Samson’s testimony during the cross-examination. In particular, the counsels raised why the NBI tagged the project as “non-existent” when there was a “capping” found during inspections.

During the cross-examination of one of Revilla’s lawyers, Jay-r Ipac, the NBI also confirmed that their complaint against the former senator was based on the affidavit and Senate testimony of former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

Ipac was also able to confirm from Samson that the NBI did not independently verify Bernardo’s allegations against Revilla. The former senator’s camp also assailed Revilla’s alleged role in the Bulacan project, particularly on the aspect of budgeting.

Bernardo, in September 2025, claimed he had allegedly given Revilla P125 million.

But the prosecution team said they have other evidence to prove Revilla’s alleged role, apart from Bernardo’s testimony, adding that they just submitted their additional proof on Monday.

“Later on, there are other evidence against [Revilla]. Because, remember, our standard now is reasonable certainty of conviction,” the prosecution team added.

Revilla is currently being held at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas because his malversation case, pending before the anti-graft court’s 3rd Division, is non-bailable. He had already posted bail for the graft case.

The 3rd Division is in the middle of bail hearings on Estrada’s malversation case to determine whether the former senator should be granted provisional liberty or not while the trial is ongoing. – Rappler.com