Bong Revilla's arraignment in malversation, graft over flood control project deferred

Two divisions of the Sandiganbayan on Friday deferred the arraignment of former senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and his co-accused in the malversation and graft cases filed against them in connection with the alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Malversation

Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson and Associate Justice Karl Miranda said the deferral of arraignment was necessary since the respondents in the case still have pending motions questioning the merits of the malversation case filed against them. 

“The arraignment is reset on February 9, 2026 at 8:30 in the morning,” Miranda said.  

It is during an arraignment when the accused enters a plea of guilty or not guilty on the charge filed against him or her. In the case of Revilla and his co-accused, it did not happen because the court deemed it necessary to resolve first the motions pending before it.

Revilla's co-accused were: 

• former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez
• Engr. Jaypee Mendoza
• Engr. Arjay Domasig
• Engr. Emelita Juat, and
• Finance section chief Juanito Mendoza, and
• cashier Christina Pineda

Miranda also ordered the counsels of the accused to file all their other motions seeking remedy for their client by January 26, Monday.

Likewise, Miranda ordered the government prosecutors to file their comments on these motions of the defense by January 28. 

He added the Sandiganbayan justices will visit the Quezon City Jail Male and Female Dormitory in Brgy. Payatas on Friday, January 23, to check on the condition of the  detainees there, including those accused in the charges in relation to alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Ahead of the visit, jail officials told the court that the Quezon City Jail Male and Female Dormitory have a congestion rate of -18% and -30%, respectively, meaning the facilities are not congested.

Questionable 

Revilla’s counsel, Atty. Isaiah Asuncion III, argued before the anti-graft court that the prosecution erred in filing malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents against the former senator because he has no custody of the public funds supposedly malversed.

Further, Asuncion said that the inclusion of the P92.8 million project under the 2025 national budget is not related to the crime being charged to Revilla.

Lawyer Lorenzo Gayya, the counsel for another accused DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office finance section chief Juanito Mendoza, also argued that the charges against his client are only part of his duties, not a criminal act.

Graft

Meanwhile, Sandiganbayan Fourth Division chairperson and Associate Justice Michael Musngi granted the motion of Revilla and five others for a new arraignment date.

The respondents filed motions to quash the criminal information on the ground that the facts of the case do not constitute an offense.

Only Juat entered a not guilty plea.

"On February 9, we will proceed with the arraignment of the other accused," Musngi said. 

Revilla and his co-accused arrived at the Sandiganbayan Friday morning. 

The former lawmaker, who showed up in his arraignment wearing a Persons Deprived of Liberty yellow shirt, was joined by his family members including his wife, Lani, and their children Brian and Jolo, among others. 

Ex-Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. in the Sandiganbayan ahead of his arraignment for the malversation charge over the alleged P92.8 million ghost projecy in Pandi, Bulacan @gmanews pic.twitter.com/DkDx5NQMrV

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) January 23, 2026

The anti-graft court issued a warrant of arrest Monday against Revilla and his co-accused. The former lawmaker surrendered to the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame later in the day. —AOL, GMA Integrated News