Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that the scheduled filing of former senator Bong Revilla’s counter-affidavit on February 20, 2026, for his plunder complaint did not push through as planned due to a new development initiated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).According to DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez, the NBI filed a motion to include additional respondents in the case.“Today, February 20, 2026, was supposed to be the filing of the supplemental counter-affidavit by Sen. Bong Revilla. Pero two days ago po, February 18, 2026, nag-file po ang NBI na motion to include additional respondents in this case,” Martinez said.Because of the NBI motion, the DOJ reset the preliminary investigation to March 3, 2026, to give the newly named respondents time to respond.The NBI earlier moved to include four former engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assigned to the National Capital Region as additional respondents. These are Denryl Caesar S. Cortuna, Manny B. Bulusan, Ruel V. Umali, and Arturo L. Gonzales Jr. Subpoenas have already been issued to them.“Siyempre, pagbibigyan din po sila ng pagkakataon makapag-file ng pagsasalaysay nila, wherein, they could include their defenses. So, because of this new development sa kaso po na ito, the scheduled preliminary investigation na dapat po today will be moved to March 3, 2026, that&#x27;s on a Tuesday, for the filing of the counter-affidavits of the new respondents,” Martinez said.According to Martinez, the NBI alleged that the four engineers were part of a conspiracy connected to the plunder case.“Nakita po ng NBI na based on the evidence that they currently have, itong apat po na ito are being charged by them or may allegation of conspiracy which includes them. So parte po daw sila sa conspiracy of plunder,” he said.“But then we have to wait for the counter-affidavits by these respondents so that the panel of prosecutors could assess,” he added.Meanwhile, the DOJ also clarified that the malversation complaint linked to the plunder case against Bong Revilla was submitted for resolution on January 12, 2026.Martinez also addressed questions on other respondents who earlier manifested that they could no longer answer the complaint because they were already under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).“If you&#x27;re made a state witness, alam po natin na apat iyong naging state witnesses na under the WPP. Iyong apat po na ‘yan, if respondent po sila sa isang kaso, kailangan pa rin po nila mag-file ng manifestation or counter affidavit stating that they have been admitted to the program,” he said.“And after which, the panel of prosecutors will then issue them a certificate of admission. And meron pa po ang certificate of materiality that has to be issued by the WPP,” Martinez added.As for the timeline of the cases, Martinez clarified that each complaint follows its own resolution period under DOJ rules.“All cases po have 60 days to be resolved. So under the rules, that&#x27;s 60 days from the time of filing. Hindi naman po kasi sabay-sabay na-file ‘yan. They came in three batches,” he said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that the scheduled filing of former senator Bong Revilla’s counter-affidavit on February 20, 2026, for his plunder complaint did not push through as planned due to a new development initiated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that the scheduled filing of former senator Bong Revilla’s counter-affidavit on February 20, 2026, for his plunder complaint did not push through as planned due to a new development initiated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

DOJ resets Revilla counter-affidavit filing in plunder complaint

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DOJ resets Revilla counter-affidavit filing in plunder complaint

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 20, 2026 06:00 PM PHT

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Updated February 20, 2026 07:19 PM PHT

Read More:

Bong Revilla

plunder

flood control scandal

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