Bong Revilla laments 'lack of due process' in flood control mess case

Former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. on Monday expressed frustration over the Sandiganbayan Third Division’s issuance of an arrest warrant and hold departure order (HDO) against him over the alleged P92.8 million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

“Nakakalungkot po parang wala yatang due process. Pero ganun pa man, haharapin ko ito nang walang takot at alam kong hindi ako pababayaan ng Diyos dahil wala akong kasalanan dito,” he said in a video statement while riding a vehicle.

(I am said that there seems to be no due process. Even so, I will face this without fear and I know that the Lord will not abandon me because I am innocent.)

The former senator also sought for prayers for himself and his family.

Earlier in the day, the anti-graft court’s Third Division issued an arrest warrant and HDO against Revilla and several former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi.

The other respondents in the malversation case are:

• Former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) assistant 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.

Lawyer Dennis Pulma, clerk of court of the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division that handles the malversation case, said the electronic arrest warrants have been transmitted to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Bureau of Immigration (BI). 

A few minutes later after his livestream, Revilla arrived at the CIDG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City to turn himself in. — JMA, GMA Integrated News