Sandigan affirms case vs Revilla, rejects jail transfer

February 6, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has affirmed the sufficiency of the non-bailable case of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan in connection with an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi town.

In a 30-page resolution issued yesterday, the court’s Third Division denied Revilla’s omnibus motion to quash the case and remand it to the ombudsman for a reinvestigation.

Granting a motion to quash the information is tantamount to dismissal of the case but without prejudice to possible refiling.

The Third Division also denied Revilla’s motion to quash the arrest warrant issued against him last Jan. 19, which prompted him to surrender to authorities on the same day.

Furthermore, the court also denied Revilla’s motion to be transferred to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City from the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas where he is currently detained, together with the other accused in the flood control scam.

In the same resolution, the Third Division also denied the motion to quash the case information filed by Revilla’s co-accused, former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) accountant Juanito Mendoza. Also denied was Mendoza’s motion to consolidate for a single trial their malversation through falsification case with their graft case pending before the court’s Fourth Division.

The Third Division also denied the motion of former DPWH Bulacan First DEO engineer Emelita Juat to be detained at the Bulacan Provincial Police Office from Camp Karingal Female Dormitory also in Quezon City.

With the denial of Revilla and his co-accused’s respective motions, their arraignment set on Feb. 9 is expected to push through. Their arraignment was originally scheduled on Jan. 23 but it was deferred due to the pending motions.

Meanwhile, in denying Revilla’s and Juat’s bid to be transferred to the PNP Custodial Center and the Bulacan Provincial Police Office, respectively, the Third Division deemed that the jail facilities where accused are currently detained have sufficient measures, personnel and features to ensure their safety and welfare.

In another development, several yachts and other vessels have been found to be among the assets acquired through flood-control kickbacks and later declared frozen by the Court of Appeals, according to the technical working group of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

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