Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Saturday called on former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to return P124.5 million pesos to the government, citing a 2018 Sandiganbayan ruling stemming from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
Speaking on DZRH’s “Executive Session” program Feb. 21, 2026, Remulla stressed that while Revilla was acquitted of plunder, the civil aspect of the court’s judgment remains unsatisfied.
“The money has to be returned by that person… who was acquitted,” Remulla said, drawing a distinction between criminal and civil liability.
He explained that Revilla was cleared of plunder on the basis of reasonable doubt, but that a preponderance of evidence was sufficient to hold him civilly liable.
The Sandiganbayan issued its ruling in December 2018 over P224.5 million pesos in alleged kickbacks from Revilla’s pork barrel funds, which prosecutors said were channeled through bogus non-governmental organizations run by Janet Lim Napoles.
Under that ruling, Revilla was acquitted of plunder but ordered to return P124.5 million pesos to the National Treasury.
His co-accused, chief of staff Richard Cambe and Napoles, were sentenced to reclusion perpetua.
Revilla’s camp has maintained that the Sandiganbayan did not specify which of the accused is individually responsible for returning the funds — an argument the Office of the Ombudsman has consistently rejected.
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