THE Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday conducted an inspection of the alleged ghost project in Pandi, Bulacan, which is the subject of the malversation through falsification case against former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and other people.
The court has been conducting hearings on the bail petitions filed by Revilla and most of his co-accused.
”So from what we see here, can you tell us what stage of any project we are at this point? We’re not saying 299 but if there’s a project here, can you tell the court... the status or the stage of this project if any?” Sandiganbayan Third Division Associate Justice Karl Miranda asked witness Kenneth Fernando, officer in charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
”Based on visual, there’s no seen accomplishment, Your Honor,” Fernando said. Miranda asked why he said that, and he replied it was because there were “no structures seen.” The prosecution and defense lawyers were present during the inspection.
The court asked the parties whether they were willing to agree that no structures were seen from the supposed start and supposed end — 128.1 meters long — of project 299.
Jaypee Mendoza’s lawyer said, “We are not willing to stipulate considering that based from the detailed engineering design, there should be sheet piles... So it might be that the sheet piles are embedded under the soil, and we cannot see it.”
Miranda said, “We will go down now also and check.” Juanito Mendoza’s camp also did not stipulate, citing lack of technical competence. Mendoza is a former accountant of the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
Later, the existence of sheet piles was checked.
The prosecution stipulated that there were some sheet piles visible, that there was heavy vegetation, and that there was rust.
Revilla’s camp has said he had no hand in the alleged ghost project.
Those with bail petitions were Revilla, Juanito Mendoza, Brice Hernandez, Arjay Domasig, Emelita Juat and Christina Mae Pineda.
The case was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in January 2026.
Revilla refused to enter a plea during his arraignment in February. The Sandiganbayan Third Division thus entered a not guilty plea for him.
Juanito Mendoza, Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Domasig, Juat and Pineda pleaded not guilty to the charge. REINA TOLENTINO
