Former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. refused to enter a plea during his Monday arraignment on a graft charge tied to the ₱92.8 million “ghost” flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
The Sandiganbayan recorded a plea of “not guilty” on his behalf.
Revilla’s co-accused, including DPWH engineer R.J. Domasig and accountant Juanito Mendoza, entered “not guilty” pleas, joining others who had previously pleaded the same before the court’s fourth division.
Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan’s third division reset Revilla’s arraignment on a separate, non-bailable malversation case to February 16, pending resolution of his motion for reconsideration challenging the denial of his plea to dismiss the case.
The Office of the Ombudsman alleged that Revilla and his co-accused conspired to release roughly ₱76 million for the Pandi flood control project despite it never being implemented.
“Despite the absence of any actual construction, the respondents declared the project completed… falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents, and endorsed disbursement vouchers,” the Ombudsman said.