Revilla sent to Quezon City jail

National

FORMER Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has been ordered temporarily detained at the New Quezon City Jail after surrendering to authorities following an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan Third Division in connection with an alleged anomalous P92.8-million flood control project in Bulacan.

The anti-graft court had earlier issued an arrest warrant and a hold departure order against Revilla and six others. This prompted the former senator to surrender on Monday to the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In a Philstar report, Revilla was brought to the Sandiganbayan for the return of the warrant and the issuance of a commitment order stating where he would be detained. The CIDG said Revilla was fully cooperative from the time he surrendered until he was brought to court.

Following his surrender, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Revilla would receive no special treatment while in detention. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Revilla would be treated like any other detainee.

“There will be no special treatment. There isn’t even an air-conditioning system there,” Remulla said in Filipino. He added that while he has been friends with Revilla for a long time, he advised him to surrender peacefully once the court ordered his arrest.

Revilla will stay at the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas, which currently houses more than 3,600 detainees. He will be placed in a cell meant for 10 inmates and will undergo a seven-day quarantine before joining the general population. Authorities said security measures are in place to ensure his safety.

In ordering his detention at the city jail, the Sandiganbayan cited a letter from PNP acting chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who asked the court not to detain Revilla at the PNP custodial center in Camp Crame. The letter said the facility already holds suspected terrorists, escape-risk detainees, and suspects facing serious crimes, making it difficult for the PNP to accommodate a high-profile detainee like Revilla due to limited manpower and resources.

Revilla was accompanied by his wife, Cavite 2nd District Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla, and his sons, Agimat Party-list Representative Bryan Revilla and Cavite 1st District Representative Jolo Revilla.

Meanwhile, one of Revilla’s co-accused, Christina Mae del Rosario Pineda, was arrested early Tuesday in Benguet. The PNP-CIDG said Pineda, a cashier at the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office, was arrested along Halsema Highway in Buguias at 12:40 a.m.

Her arrest followed the issuance of a warrant by the Sandiganbayan Third Division. She was later transported to Region 3. Pineda is facing malversation charges with Revilla and five others over alleged irregularities in the Bulacan flood control project. A hold departure order was also issued against her.

Revilla is facing a non-bailable malversation case and remains in detention while the court hears his motion regarding custody during his arraignment and pre-trial. (Adriane Josef E. Cabase, USJ-R Comm Intern)