(UPDATE) THE Sandiganbayan’s Third Division granted former senator Bong Revilla permission to file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Revilla and several other people are facing a malversation through falsification case before the court in connection with an alleged ghost project in Pandi, Bulacan. All accused are detained.
Juanito Mendoza was also granted permission to file a motion for reconsideration.
The court said in a resolution promulgated on Feb. 13, 2026 that the Ombudsman “will be unable to comply with the certification requirement under the 2018 Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan if this court does not grant leave allowing the accused to file their motions for reconsideration.”
“Accordingly, for more efficient conduct of proceedings, the court deems it proper to allow the accused to file their motions for reconsideration with the Ombudsman and to direct the Ombudsman to submit the certifications required under the 2018 Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan,” it added.
The court was referring to certifications that the motion for reconsideration was denied or that the period to file one ended.
In the same resolution, the court said the Ombudsman’s revised rules of procedure do not bar the filing of a case before the Sandiganbayan.
Revilla and Juanito Mendoza filed their motions for reconsideration before the Ombudsman on Jan. 27, 2026. The court said “the prosecution admitted during the hearing on Feb. 9, 2026 that the Ombudsman will not act on the motion for reconsideration since the information was already filed in court.” In its resolution, the court directed the Ombudsman to resolve the motions within 60 days.
The court also directed it to submit within three days from notice the certification that the reglementary period to file a motion for reconsideration as to the other accused has already expired and “submit within 24 hours from the date of the resolution of the motions for reconsideration of Revilla and Juanito Mendoza the certification that it has resolved said motions.” Asked whether there was a disconnect between the rules of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a press conference on Monday, “That’s something that we will discuss with the Sandiganbayan so we can harmonize.” Also on Monday, Revilla refused to enter a plea during his arraignment in the malversation through falsification case.
The court entered a not guilty plea for him.
Revilla is detained at the Quezon City Jail male dormitory while the case is pending. The defense intends to file a petition for bail.
Juanito Mendoza entered a not guilty plea during the arraignment.
The arraignment of Revilla and Juanito Mendoza proceeded on Monday after it was deferred on Feb. 9, 2026, because of pending motions.
Their co-accused Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, Emelita Juat, and Christina Mae Pineda pleaded not guilty to the charge.
