JANUARY 16, 2026 — Here we go again. The Office of the Ombudsman has filed malversation and graft charges against former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six DPWH Bulacan executives over a P92.8 million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. Yes, ghost project — meaning no actual construction, but millions of pesos still managed to vanish into thin air.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano elaborated, “The informations allege that the respondents conspired to facilitate the release of approximately P76 million for the supposed construction of a flood control project … a project which, based on official inspection and witness accounts, was never implemented.” 

He added, “Despite the absence of any actual construction, the respondents declared the project completed.”

Fraudulent accomplishment reports, fake billing documents, and endorsed disbursement vouchers — classic signs of a scheme designed to bleed public funds dry. 

Revilla’s co-accused include DPWH officials Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, Emelita Juat, Juanito Mendoza, and Christina Pineda. The Ombudsman has already moved for warrants of arrest and hold-departure orders.

Revilla was tagged after former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo alleged he personally delivered P125 million to Revilla’s residence in 2024, plus another P250 million before the 2025 elections. All supposedly in exchange for flood control projects. 

Revilla, of course, denies this, insisting “I am an easy target being used to muddle the truth, but the truth will always come out.”

Trip down memory lane

Sound familiar? It should. Revilla was previously charged in the infamous Janet Napoles PDAF scandal, accused of pocketing kickbacks from bogus NGOs. Though acquitted of plunder in 2018, the shadow of corruption has never really left him. 

Will he never learn? Or is this just proof that in Philippine politics, scandals recycle themselves like bad reruns?

Exactly how many more ghost projects are out there? Flood control is no joke — Filipinos know all too well the devastation of overflowing rivers and submerged barangays. Imagine the outrage of residents who still wade through waist-deep water, only to discover that the millions supposedly allocated for their safety were siphoned off.

This is the second batch of flood control-related cases filed by the Ombudsman, the first involving former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and DPWH executives over a P289 million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro. 

Clearly, this isn’t an isolated mess — it’s a pattern … and a practice. 

So, dear readers, what do we make of this? Are we witnessing accountability finally catching up, or just another cycle of charges, denials, and eventual acquittals? 

Corruption thrives when public outrage fades — let’s not give it that luxury.

(Image: Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. | Facebook)