Sandiganbayan denies Revilla’s bid to be detained in Camp Crame

The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Thursday denied the bid of ex-Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to be detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame due to lack of basis.

The anti-graft court is hearing the malversation case against him over the alleged P92.8 million ghost flood control project in Bulacan.

In a 30-page resolution dated February 5, the Sandiganbayan said the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory on Payatas Road and the Female Dormitory at Camp Tomas B. Karingal in Barangay Sikatuna Village in Quezon City are the designated jail facilities for persons implicated in the flood control scandal.

As such, both detention facilities are “well prepared” for the anticipated influx of suspects facing cases related to the flood control mess.

The Sandiganbayan added that both facilities have a negative congestion rate and can accommodate Revilla while he is undergoing trial.

It noted that both are the nearest facilities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to the Sandiganbayan.

“The court visited the jail facilities where the accused are being detained on January 23, 2026. As to the Male Dormitory, the court is convinced that the jail’s security measures are sufficient for the safekeeping of Revilla and the other accused,” the Sandiganbayan said. 

“From the foregoing, there is no basis for the Revilla’s claims of harm, harassment, and threat to his person that would warrant a transfer of his custody to any PNP custodial facility. After due consideration, the court denies the motions to transfer the commitments of Revilla and [former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office Engr Emelita] Juat to a PNP custodial facility,” it added. 

Juat is one of Revilla’s six-co-accused in the malversation case over the alleged ghost Pandi, Bulacan project. 

The anti-graft court also cited the testimony of Jail Superintendent Maria Lourdes Pacion, the jail warden of the Male Dormitory, who assured that they can provide the accused security and the basic needs of the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Pacion told the anti-graft court that while the whole facility can accommodate a total of 4,440 inmates, but its present population is only 3,621. As such, the jail has 220 vacant cells.

All suspects facing flood control related-cases are on the 4th floor of the facility.

She said the male dormitory is being manned by 521 personnel who are divided on an eight -hour shift, with 10 jail guards assigned to each floor of the facility. 

The anti-graft court added that each cell in the male dormitory has light and air ventilation, a shower room, lavatory, comfort room, ceiling fans, and beddings.

It also has two purified water system for the drinking water of the PDLs, a lawyer’s lounge on the ground floor where inmates may consult with their lawyers at any time, and resident medical professionals inside the facility.

It is also just three kilometers away from the nearest hospital.

As to the female dormitory, Jail Superintendent Lourvina Abrazado informed the court that they have a -30% congestion rate. The female dormitory also has in-house medical nurses and an on-call doctor, and is just three to four kilometers away from the nearest hospital.

“Anent Revilla’s concern that he might be subjected to gang-related violence from his co-detainees, Jail Superintendent Pacion said that there were no untoward incidents or riots so far under her watch. She even assured the court that she will provide five jail guards solely for Revilla,” the Sandiganbayan said.

In the same resolution, the Sandiganbayan also denied Revilla and co-accused Juanito Mendoza’s bid to return the malversation case to the Ombudsman prosecutors for reinvestigation.

The anti-graft court noted that regardless of the allegations and accusations in the complaint, the Ombudsman has the mandate to determine the proper offense to be charged against the public officer, as well as the authority to file a case different from that initially indicated in the preliminary investigation.

“All the elements for malversation through falsification of public documents were sufficiently alleged in the information. It emphasized that Revilla and Juanito Mendoza need not be accountable officers to be held liable for malversation, as they are alleged to have conspired with the other accused, who are identified as accountable officers in the Information,” the Sandiganbayan said. 

“In this regard, the court held that conspiracy is also adequately alleged in the information, noting that the information expressly used the terms ‘conspiring and confederating.’ As to Revilla and Juanito Mendoza’s claim that their overt acts should be in the Information, the court discussed that these are matters of defense which are properly addressed during trial,” it added.

With the denial of all the motions of the accused, the Sandiganbayan set the arraignment and pre-trial for the malversation case for Revilla and the rest of the accused on Monday,  February 9. 

In response to the court’s ruling, Revilla’s lead counsel Ramon Esguerra said they are still pondering on what legal remedies to pursue. 

“The Defense team [would have] to still meet on the next remedies to be availed of,” Esguerra said in a statement. — JMA, GMA Integrated News