Jamaine Punzalan

Former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla exits the Sandiganbayan courtoom on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, after the anti-graft court granted his bail. Revilla was committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas due to a non-bailable malversation charge. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL ISSUE- BONG REVILLA

Michael Delizo

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176905567987120260120-sandiganbayan-flood-control-bong-revilla-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla exits the Sandiganbayan courtoom on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, after the anti-graft court granted his bail. Revilla was committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas due to a non-bailable malversation charge. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Cavite Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla on Wednesday called for fairness, understanding, and respect for due process as her husband, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., faced <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/bong-revilla-to-be-detained-at-qc-jail-1409">another detention </a>over a new corruption case.</p><p>Mercado-Revilla was among those who accompanied Revilla when he surrendered to police, appeared before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, and was subsequently brought to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Barangay Payatas.</p><p>&quot;The cases involving my husband, former Senator Bong Revilla Jr., are now under judicial review. As his wife and public servant myself, I ask for understanding, fairness, and respect, for due process,&quot; the lawmaker said in a post on her Facebook page.</p><p>She said she would no longer make any public comments moving forward.</p><p>&quot;Our family continues to draw strength from our faith and we remain hopeful for a fair and just resolution,&quot; Mercado-Revilla added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/21/bong-revilla-tried-but-failed-to-bring-clothes-gadgets-into-qc-jail-bjmp-1227">Bong Revilla tried but failed to bring clothes, gadgets into QC Jail: BJMP</a></div><div><iframe width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/itVtv3ptxEw" title="LIVE: Former Sen. Bong Revilla to be committed at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas, QC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘DIFFICULT MOMENT’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meantime, Revilla’s son Jolo, also a Cavite congressman, said the family was in a “difficult moment” as he appealed to the public and the media “to allow the justice system to work—without pressure, noise, or premature conclusions.”</p><p>“As a legislator, I recognize the importance of accountability and the integrity of due process. In this light, we respectfully call for fairness—fair treatment under the law, fair judgment based on evidence, and fairness in public discourse that refrains from trial by publicity,” he said.</p><p>The younger Revilla said his father would confront his case in court as he expressed faith in the country’s legal institutions.</p><p>“[T]he proper place to resolve these issues is inside the courtroom, where facts matter and the law speaks louder than speculation,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/palace-bong-revilla-case-shows-no-sacred-cows-in-flood-control-scandal-1339">Palace: Bong Revilla’s surrender shows no sacred cows in flood control scandal</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>THE CASE </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Revilla, 59, faces a malversation case over an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. He was detained along with six former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Bulacan First District Engineering Office.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman, which filed the malversation and graft cases on January 16, said the respondents allegedly connived to channel P76 million worth of funds for the construction of the project, which was never implemented despite being declared completed.</p><p>The longtime politician and movie actor was also detained for four years in 2014 in connection with a multi-billion peso pork barrel scam before being acquitted of plunder in 2018.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BJMP: NO VIP TREATMENT</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against VIP treatment in its detention facilities. </p><p>BJMP spokesperson JSupt. Jayrex Joseph Bustinera clarified that the detention cells assigned to newly arrested government officials are the same standard cells used by some 3,600 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) currently housed in the  Quezon City Jail in Payatas. </p><p>“‘Yung pinakita po naming selda (ng government officials), yun po kasi talaga ang standard selda… For transparency purpose, we released photos of their cells and what you saw yun din po ang cell ng 3,600 (PDLs), it’s the same,” he said in a press conference during the Second National Decongestion Summit. </p><p>“We just want to show na mas makatao na rin po ang piitan… Part of our decongestion is to construct modern humane jails,” he added.</p><p>He also warned that wardens found granting VIP treatment would face administrative cases and possible dismissal, in line with the earlier directive of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla. </p><p>Bustinera said the Quezon City Jail in Payatas is one of the newest jail facilities of the BJMP, with construction ongoing for 142 jail facilities nationwide.</p><p>Based on the latest data, the BJMP recorded a congestion rate of 279 percent, an improvement from the 327 percent recorded two years ago.</p><p>Bustinera added that the BJMP planned to equip personnel handling detained government officials with body-worn cameras.</p><div><iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZH_dylg4hk" title="Bong Revilla attempted to bring clothes, gadgets into Quezon City Jail: BJMP | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q5xJbE_vYHw" title="All 6 of Bong Revilla&#x27;s co-accused now detained | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Cavite Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla on Wednesday called for fairness, understanding, and respect for due process as her husband, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., faced another detention over a new corruption case.</p>

Cavite Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla on Wednesday called for fairness, understanding, and respect for due process as her husband, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., faced another detention over a new corruption case.

Lani Mercado appeals for fairness, due process as Bong Revilla faces new detention

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Lani Mercado appeals for fairness, due process as Bong Revilla faces new detention

Michael Delizo,

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 22, 2026 12:26 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 22, 2026 03:12 PM PHT

Read More:

Bong Revilla

Lani Mercado

corruption

flood control

Cavite

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