Manila, Philippines – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has raised concern that the Sandiganbayan ruling allowing former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. to post bail in connection with the flood control scandal appears to have been arranged.

He also noted that Revilla has yet to return money owed to the Sandiganbayan even after being acquitted in the PDAF scam case.

The Ombudsman had expected that Revilla's bail petition — filed in connection with the malversation through falsification of public documents case would not be granted.

Speaking on his radio program last Saturday, Remulla said the court ruling appeared to have been influenced:

"Mukhang trinabaho ang naturang court ruling sa Sandiganbayan."

[It appears that the said court ruling at the Sandiganbayan was worked on.]

He said this became an eye-opener for their office to further intensify the fight against corruption.

Since Remulla assumed the post last year, their office has raised the standard to "reasonable certainty of conviction" before filing cases in court. However, he said this is only half of the work, since the courts also play an important role in holding those involved in corruption accountable.

Remulla said he will meet with Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo regarding the matter.

Revilla is linked to the flood control scandal as an alleged proponent of an anomalous flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan worth 92.8 million pesos. He posted bail worth 1 million pesos last Friday, July 31.

Meanwhile, the bail petitions of his co-accused from the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, were denied.

Remulla also pointed out that aside from the flood control case, Revilla still has an unsettled case before the Sandiganbayan. He said Revilla has yet to return 123 million pesos despite being acquitted in the PDAF scam.

This refers to the Sandiganbayan's 2018 decision acquitting Revilla of plunder, but ordering him to pay 124.5 million pesos in civil damages to the national treasury. His co-accused, Janet Lim Napoles and his former chief of staff Richard Cambe, were found guilty.

According to Remulla, Revilla's granted bail petition is only part of a bigger fight, and it will not stop them from intensifying their efforts against corruption.

‍