Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. voluntarily surrendered to police Monday evening after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with alleged irregularities in a flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
Revilla arrived at the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) headquarters inside Camp Crame in Quezon City just before 10 p.m. on January 19, turning himself in as the anti-graft court’s warrant of arrest and hold departure order took effect.
Photos published by local news outlets show Revilla in the custody of CIDG personnel following his surrender, confirming that the court order was implemented without incident.
The Sandiganbayan issued the arrest warrant in a non-bailable malversation case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman over an alleged P92.8-million “ghost” flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan that investigators say was never carried out despite funds being released. Along with Revilla, several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are also respondents in the case.
Before surrendering, Revilla took to social media to express his frustrations, saying it was “sad that there seems to be no due process,” but vowing to face the charges without fear and asking supporters to pray for his family.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, a longtime friend of Revilla, said he personally urged the former senator to turn himself in and emphasized that no special treatment would be given in the process.
Authorities have continued cracking down on individuals linked to the controversial project. On Tuesday, one of Revilla’s co-accused, Christina Mae del Rosario Pineda, a DPWH cashier, was arrested in Benguet as part of the broader enforcement effort.
Malacañang has commented that Revilla’s surrender does not mark the culmination of efforts to hold major figures accountable in the flood control investigation, signaling ongoing pressure to pursue other high-profile respondents.
The anti-graft court is expected to determine subsequent legal proceedings, including detention arrangements and bail issues, as the case unfolds in the coming days.
