Revilla's malversation, graft cases over flood control mess go to Sandiganbayan 3rd, 4th Divisions

The malversation and graft charges against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and six other former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with the P92.8-million alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan have been raffled off Monday to Sandiganbayan's Third and Fourth Division, respectively.

This happened after the anti-graft court conducted a special raffle on the cases filed against Revilla and six others, namely:

• former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) Asst. District Engineer Brice Hernandez;
• former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr. Jaypee Mendoza;
• former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr Arjay Domasig;
• former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr Emelita Juat;
• former DPWH Bulacan First DEO, finance section chief Juanito Mendoza; and
• DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office cashier Christina Pineda.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division is chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda with Associate Justices Ronald Moreno and Fritz delos Santos as members.

The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division, on the other hand, is chaired by Associate Justice Michael Musngi with Associate Justices Arthur Malabaguio and Ermin Ernest Miguel as members.

Government prosecutors alleged that the respondents conspired to facilitate the release of approximately P76 million for the supposed construction of a flood control project in Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan. However, the said project was never implemented based on official inspection and witness accounts.

“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,” Assistant Ombudsman Clavano said Friday.

Clavano said the P92.8 million project was awarded to the contractor on March 28, 2025, when Revilla was still a senator.

Ahead of the filing of charges against Revilla, former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara testified before a Senate inquiry that then DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo asked him to set aside a P30 million cut for then senator Revilla for a P300-million project.

Likewise, Alcantara told the same Senate inquiry that Bernardo also asked him to add project proponents, given the huge allocation given to the Bulacan DEO.

Bernardo, also during a Senate inquiry, said that he gave Revilla a list of projects in 2024 and that Revilla asked for a “commitment” fee pegged at 25% of the project cost. Bernardo also said that  Alcantara then collected the 25% commitment or about P125 million, which was delivered to Revilla’s house in Cavite.

Revilla however denied the allegation by Bernardo that he received 25% worth of commissions off flood control projects. 

Alcantara and Bernardo have been listed as state witnesses in the flood control cases, the Department of Justice said last January 15. —KG, GMA Integrated News