MANILA—Former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. will receive no special treatment during his detention, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified following his friend's surrender to authorities.

Secretary Remulla emphasized that the Sandiganbayan made the final decision on where Revilla should be detained, not the DILG.

Seven years after walking free from a four-year imprisonment over the pork barrel scam, Revilla returns to jail. However, this time he will not be held at the PNP Custodial Facility but at a different detention center.

Despite their decades-long friendship dating back to the 1980s in Cavite, Remulla stressed that duty takes precedence over personal relationships. Revilla's son currently serves as vice governor under Remulla's nephew, highlighting their deep political and personal ties.

“Matagal kaming magkasama ni Sen. Bong sa Cavite Ang anak niya ngayon ay vice governor ng pamangkin ko. We’ve been life-long friends ever since the 1980s matagal na kami magkaibgan but duty calls. There are not exceptions to the rule, kapag sinabi ng Sandigan to arrest him then ang best ko na magagawa is to advise him to surrender peacefully.” Remulla said.

["We've been together for a long time in Cavite. His son is now vice governor under my nephew. We've been lifelong friends ever since the 1980s, but duty calls. There are no exceptions to the rule. When the Sandiganbayan said to arrest him, the best I could do was advise him to surrender peacefully," ]

The Interior Secretary made it clear that while their friendship spans decades, the law applies equally to everyone regardless of personal connections.

Revilla surrendered following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan over his alleged involvement in a ghost flood control project in Bulacan. The case marks his return to detention facilities after being acquitted in 2018 of plunder charges related to the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

Remulla assured the public that all protocols and procedures are being followed strictly, with no preferential treatment extended to the former senator despite their personal relationship.

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