Bong Revilla to stay in cell for 10 people, says BJMP

In the coming days following the Sandiganbayan's order for his detention, former Senator Bong Revilla Jr. will be staying inside a 47-square-meter facility in Payatas, Quezon City that fits 10 people.

According to Jonathan Andal's report on "24 Oras," on Tuesday, the jail facility has a toilet and bathroom, but the dividers are only chest-high for security reasons. 

But before Revilla is allowed to join the other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), he will undergo a medical quarantine, which could last up to seven days. 

“After assessment, titignan po natin. Pero definitely hindi po puwedeng mag-isa sa isang selda, may makakasama siya,” said Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson J/Supt. Jayrex Bustinera.

The BJMP said there will be no special treatment for the actor turned politician. 

“Commitment po ng BJMP ‘yan na walang VIP treatment na mangyayari kahit kanino pong PDL ‘yan. Talaga pong nasa policy namin na bawal ‘ho talaga ‘yan. Kung may mapatunayan na gagawa niyan eh kakasuhan po natin at mananagot,” Bustinera said.

(It is the BJMP's commitment that no Very Important Person treatment will be given to any PDL . It is strictly against our policy. If anyone is proven to be providing such treatment, we will file charges and they will be held accountable.) 

Just like the other PDLs, Revilla will only receive an allowance of P100 to cover all his daily meals. 

“Pero kung may dala ang kanilang dalaw ay karapatan naman nila, basta lutong pagkain at subject for inspection ng ating BJMP personnel,” Bustinera said. 

(But if their visitors bring food, that is their right, provided it is cooked food and subject to inspection by our BJMP personnel.) 

PDLs are also prohibited from having a cellphone or any electronic gadgets. 

Revilla will also follow the visiting hours from Tuesday to Sunday. 

After undergoing the booking procedure and having his mugshot taken, Revilla was issued a yellow BJMP t-shirt similar to what the other PDLs are required to wear inside the jail. 

Seven DPWH officials have been detained in the facility since November 2025 over their alleged links to the anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued Monday a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order against Revilla and six other individuals over an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Revilla surrendered Monday night to the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame.

Before his surrender, Revilla expressed frustration over the Sandiganbayan Third Division's issuance of an arrest warrant and hold departure order (HDO) against him.

Revilla's four co-accused in a malversation case related to the ghost flood project will join him in the QC jail. These are former Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig and finance section chief Juanito Mendoza. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News