In a follow-up to former Senator Bong Revilla's January detention over an alleged P92.8 million ghost flood control project in Bulacan, the Sandiganbayan on February 5 denied his motion to transfer to PNP custody, upholding his BJMP jail detention for time credit benefits. The court also dismissed challenges to its jurisdiction, arrest warrants, and reinvestigation requests.
The Sandiganbayan's February 5 order denied motions by Revilla and co-accused Emelita Juat to shift from Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities—Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory at Payatas Road and Female Dormitory at Camp Tomas B. Karingal—to Philippine National Police custody. The court ruled no legal basis exists for such transfers post-commitment order, noting BJMP detention aids time allowance computations.
Additional motions were rejected: Juanito Mendoza's bid to consolidate the malversation case with a related graft case was denied to avoid delays, as the graft case is advanced. Reinvestigation requests were dismissed, affirming the Ombudsman's charging authority. Challenges to arrest warrants and informations were upheld after probable cause review, with conspiracy liability possible even for non-accountable officers like Revilla and Mendoza.
This builds on Revilla's January 19 surrender and January 20 detention order stemming from the non-existent Pandi, Bulacan flood control project.
