No visible structure for Pandi flood control project tied to Bong Revilla

PANDI, Bulacan — The Sandiganbayan Third Division conducted an aerial inspection Wednesday of alleged flood control ghost projects tied to former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., finding no visible structure for a project reported to be 95 percent complete.

The inspection was part of bail hearing proceedings for Revilla, who faces malversation and graft charges over a P92.8-million flood control project in this municipality.

Justices searched for Project 299, which was reported to be 95 percent finished and allegedly located approximately 40 meters from Project 647. However, upon inspection, the justices found no visible structure for Project 299, according to photographs taken by The Philippine STAR.

The inspection came after Department of Public Works and Highways official Kenneth Fernando, officer-in-charge of the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office, told the court during a contingent inspection Tuesday that “based on visual inspection, there is no accomplishment” for the project, which was supposed to span 128 meters.

Prosecutors have described the project as a “ghost project.” Defense lawyers disputed the claim, arguing that sheet piles could be buried underground and that the initial assessment lacked technical basis.

Sandiganbayan Third Division Chairperson Karl Miranda directed DPWH maintenance crews to verify whether buried sheet piles were present, stating, “The court should be able to satisfy itself.” After crews trimmed tall grass covering the site, they found at least three sets of barely visible, rusting sheet piles.

The inspection was prompted by conflicting accounts from two prosecution witnesses regarding the project’s location, including a National Bureau of Investigation witness who initially pointed to a site adjacent to the actual project area. The adjacent site had visible structures but remained unfinished.

Revilla was arrested in January after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued a warrant for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. The Office of the Ombudsman charged Revilla and six DPWH officials, alleging they conspired to facilitate the release of approximately P76 million for the construction of a flood control project in Barangay Bunsuran that was never implemented.

Prosecutors said the respondents declared the project completed despite the absence of any actual construction and allegedly falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents and endorsed disbursement vouchers.

Revilla’s counsel, lawyer Reody Anthony Balisi, has maintained that the former senator had no participation in the alleged irregularities. “We have seen from the testimonies and even from the prosecution’s own documents that there is no participation at all on the part of the former senator,” Balisi said following earlier hearings.

The malversation case is nonbailable. Revilla remains detained at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City. The bail hearing is expected to span 10 days, with the prosecution set to present up to 20 witnesses.

The project was awarded to a contractor in March 2025 when Revilla was still a senator.