Former Senator Revilla Charged in P93-Million 'Ghost' Flood Control Project
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft and malversation charges against former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and six former Bulacan public works officials over an alleged P92.8 million flood control project that was never built.
Conspiracy to Defraud Government
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano revealed that the accused allegedly conspired to release at least P76 million as payment for the supposed project in Purok V, Barangay Bunsuran in Pandi, Bulacan, which was awarded to a private contractor in March 2025.
"Thereafter, to facilitate the release of the entire project cost, the respondents are found to have falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents and endorsed disbursement vouchers," Clavano explained.
Official inspections confirmed that the project was never implemented but was reported as "completed" to justify the fund releases.
DPWH Officials Dismissed
The six co-accused from the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways have been dismissed from service. They include Assistant DEO chief Brice Hernandez, engineers Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Mendoza and Emelita Juat, finance section chief Juanito Mendoza and cashier Christina Pineda.
Notably, Clavano did not specify Revilla's exact role in the conspiracy, considering the former senator hails from Cavite province, not Bulacan.
Part of Wider Corruption Scandal
This case represents the second set of charges brought before the Sandiganbayan since the flood control corruption scandal emerged in August last year. The investigation was sparked by testimony from former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who claimed he delivered P125 million in kickbacks to Revilla's residence in December 2024.
Bernardo also alleged sending another P250 million to Revilla before the 2025 midterm elections, where the former senator lost his reelection bid.
Presidential Anti-Corruption Drive
The charges align with President Marcos' commitment to rooting out corruption in government infrastructure projects. The President's "Isumbong sa Pangulo" website has been instrumental in identifying suspicious flood control projects nationwide.
According to presidential data, top contractors secured nearly 20 percent of the P500-billion flood control projects across the country from 2022 to 2025, raising concerns about potential monopolization and corruption.
Legal Proceedings Continue
All malversation cases filed by the Ombudsman are non-bailable, as the amounts involved exceed the P8.8-million threshold for bail eligibility.
Revilla's lawyer, Francesca Señga, has dismissed the allegations as "absolute lies," claiming the evidence is based on hearsay from unreliable sources.
The Senate blue ribbon committee will resume hearings next week, with Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III issuing subpoenas for additional witnesses, including fugitive former Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy Co, who remains abroad.
"Today's filing before the Sandiganbayan emphasizes that the Office of the Ombudsman is steadfast in its commitment to enforce accountability where public funds are concerned," Clavano stated, promising that this is "only the beginning" of their relentless pursuit of justice.