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Former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Monday, February 9, 2026, for his scheduled arraignment. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Ombudsman prosecutors urged the Sandiganbayan Third Division to overturn its resolution granting bail to former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in his malversation case over an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
In their motion for reconsideration filed on Wednesday, the prosecution argued that the court’s finding that the commitments or kickbacks allegedly received by Revilla were not public funds was insufficient to negate his alleged participation in the alleged conspiracy to misappropriate P76.9 million in government funds.
The prosecution said it never claimed the commitments received by Revilla were the same public funds involved in the project. It argued that Revilla’s alleged receipt of advance kickbacks showed his concurrence in the scheme to divert public funds.
“The circumstance that the ‘commitments’ were not public funds is not tantamount to him not having a hand in the conspiracy to commit the crime subject of this case. His receipt of the ‘commitments’ is nothing but proof of his implied concurrence to the furtive and devious design to commit the crime charged,” the motion read.
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The prosecution also claimed that Revilla facilitated the inclusion of the questioned project in the appropriations bill and the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
“While accused Revilla may not be the one who personally misappropriated the amount alleged in the Information, he, nevertheless, consented or allowed the embezzlement thereof by his co-accused,” the prosecution said.
It further argued that the evidence showed incomplete documentary requirements and false representations used to support the release of funds for the project.
“The documents on which the disbursement of funds was based represented that the subject project was implemented and 95.17% accomplished, when in truth and in fact, no such work was actually undertaken,” the motion read.
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The prosecution also challenged the majority resolution’s finding that there was insufficient evidence directly connecting Revilla’s alleged receipt of advance kickbacks.
“It is a doctrine of long standing that direct proof is not essential to prove conspiracy. Direct proof of previous agreement to commit a crime is not necessary to prove conspiracy,” the prosecution said in their motion.
Moreover, it said the alleged individual acts of the accused, when viewed as a whole, showed a “deliberate and coordinated course of conduct,” with each accused in the inclusion of the project in the 2025 budget and the processing and disbursement of funds.
Revilla, who had been detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory since January, was granted temporary liberty on July 31 after the majority of Third Division justices ruled that the prosecution failed to establish that the evidence of his guilt was strong.
The Third Division justices have stood by their bail ruling despite questions and criticisms raised over the resolution.
Meanwhile, Revilla’s co-accused, former DPWH Bulacan First District engineer Jaypee Mendoza and cashier Christina Pineda, also asked the court to overturn its denial of their bid for bail in the same malversation case.
Third Division Clerk of Court Atty. Dennis Pulma confirmed that Pineda and Mendoza filed a motion for reconsideration on Wednesday.
Pulma said the defense and prosecution were given 5 days to comment on the motions.
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