Bong Revilla posts P1-M bail, walks free

Former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. posted Friday a P1-million cash bond before the Sandiganbayan for his temporary liberty after the anti-graft court granted his petition for bail in a malversation case over a flood control project.

The project in this case is the P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, which was found to be an empty lot with no physical structure.

"The accused, Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., in the above-entitled case has posted his cash bail bond, in the amount of P1 million under Official Receipt No. JEPS-2026-000179958 dated July 31, 2026, which is duly approved by this Court, is allowed provisional liberty in connection with this case. So ordered," the Sandiganbayan said in its order.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) later confirmed that Revilla was released from the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas at 6:14 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2026, by virtue of the release order issued by the Sandiganbayan Third Division.

"[This came] after he posted the required bail in connection with his case," the BJMP said.

In granting Revilla's petition for bail, the Sandiganbayan said, "for failure of the prosecution to establish that the evidence of his guilt is strong, insofar as it pertains to the charge of malversation through falsification of public documents."

While it granted Revilla's bail petition, the anti-graft court denied similar pleas of his co-accused in the case due to "strong evidence of their guilt as to the charge of malversation through falsification of public documents."

They are: engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, Emelita Juat; DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office finance section chief Juanito Mendoza, and DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office cashier Christina Pineda.

Trust in judicial system

Revilla's legal counsel and spokesperson Rean Balisi said his client is pleased with the Sandiganbayan's decision.

"From the beginning, former Sen. Bong Revilla placed his trust in the judicial system. This resolution of the Court to grant him bail affirms the truth that the evidence of guilt is not strong," Balisi said in a statement.

He added, "Sen. Revilla is thankful and elated. He will be spending time with his family whom he has been apart from for the last 6 months."

Speaking to reporters, Revilla's counsel Isaiah Asuncion III said the court's ruling proves that the prosecution failed to back up their allegations against Revilla.

"The prosecution failed to prove that they have strong evidence of the guilt of Senator Revilla. For those who observed the trial, they would know that almost all prosecution witnesses said they have no personal knowledge of the alleged participation of Senator Revilla," Asuncion said in Filipino.

"This means that the court cannot rely on hearsay alone. There is no document or anything of that sort showing that Senator Revilla, indeed, facilitated the funding for that project. No link," Asuncion added.

Respects the court

For its part, Malacañang said it respects the resolution of Sandiganbayan granting Revilla's bail petition.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro acknowledged that such matters rest in the hands of the anti-graft court.

"The decision regarding such matters is up to the Sandiganbayan. The administration respects the resolutions or decisions of the courts," Castro said in Filipino.

"It is also up to the prosecutors to determine the appropriate course of action or legal remedy regarding the order or resolution by Sandiganbayan. The rule of law and due process must always prevail," she added.

For its part, the Office of the Ombudsman maintained that it has strong evidence against Revilla as it vowed to pursue the case.

"The Office of the Ombudsman, while it respects the orders and decisions of the Sandiganbayan, must stand by its own investigation and work," it said in a statement.

"We will exhaust all remedies to highlight the basis for which we can say that evidence of guilt is indeed strong against former Senator Ramon 'Bong' Revilla," the Ombudsman added.

Revilla earlier posted P90,000 bail before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in connection with the graft charge filed against him. — VDV, GMA News