Bong Revilla

Ramon Bautista Bong Revilla Jr. (; born Jose Mari Mortel Bautista; September 25, 1966) is a Filipino actor, director, producer, television presenter and politician serving as a senator since 2019, and previously from 2004 to 2016.

The son of actor-politician Ramon Revilla Sr., he himself became an action star in the 1980s and 1990s as Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., starring in the ''Alyas Pogi'' film series as the titular policeman Henry Cruz. He started his political career in Cavite, serving as vice governor (1995–1998) and later governor (1998–2001). He was the chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board (now the Optical Media Board) from 2002 to 2004.

Revilla was first elected to the Senate in 2004. He successfully ran for a second term and topped the senatorial race in 2010. His alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam led the Sandiganbayan to issue an arrest warrant against him and other co-accused on June 20, 2014. Within hours, Revilla surrendered before the anti-graft court.

Bong Revilla was acquitted of plunder and released on December 7, 2018, but was required to return to the government () in civil liability. He stood accused of 16 counts of graft for his alleged role in the transfer of ₱517 million (US$ million) of his discretionary funds to bogus foundations until all cases were junked by Sandiganbayan on 2021; however, he has yet to return the required amount he was asked to give back before his acquittal. He successfully ran for a third term in the Senate in 2019 and sought a re-election in 2025 but lost.

Early life and education

Bong Revilla was born as Jose Mari Mortel Bautista Jr. to actor Jose Acuña Bautista Sr. (1927–2020, known professionally as Ramon Revilla) and Azucena Mortel (1944–1998). He has over 70 siblings, with his father once claiming that the number is probably above 80. His six siblings are Marlon, Rowena, Rebecca ("Princess", born 1965), Strike ( né Edwin, born 1970), Andrea (born 1975) and Diane, and among his half-siblings are Evelyn and Ramgen Jose ("Ram", 1988-2011).

In 1977, Bong Revilla finished his elementary education at Jesus Good Shepherd School in Palico II, Imus, Cavite. He finished his secondary education at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1982. Ramon Revilla encouraged Bong Revilla to be a doctor, but the younger Revilla committed to pursuing his acting career.

Acting career

Bong Revilla entered the showbiz industry in 1973. He debuted in the film ''Tiagong Akyat'' as a seven-year old child actor. It was produced by the Revilla family-owned Imus Production and starred his father Ramon Revilla and Aurora Salve.

In the early 1980s, Revilla as a 14-year old featured in the film ''Bianong Bulag'' which also starred his father and Charito Solis. The younger Revilla played the role of the young version of the titular protagonist. The father and son also acted in the 1983 film ''Dugong Buhay''.

After ''Dugong Buhays production was wrapped up, the elder Revilla introduced his son to Lolit Solis who has became Bong Revilla's talent manager ever since. Solis' first project for Bong Revilla was a work by Tower Productions.

Revilla starred in the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, '' Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako''.

Revilla's acting career was put onto hiatus in 2014 due to being arrested for graft and plunder charges. He was acquitted five years later and re-elected as a Senator in the May 2019 election. Revilla returned to acting under GMA Network and was reportedly filming for the drama fantasy television series '' Agimat ng Agila'' in December 2019.

In April 2024, the filming for ''Birador: Alyas Pogi 4'' with Revilla began. The upcoming media will mark Revilla's return to acting in feature films.

Political career

Vice-governor of Cavite

In June 1994, Revilla became a member of the then-ruling Lakas–NUCD party, which drafted him to be their gubernatorial candidate in Cavite. According to him, it was President Fidel V. Ramos who first convinced him to enter politics and invited him to join the party. However, he was invited by National Bureau of Investigation director Epimaco Velasco to be his running mate instead in the province. In the 1995 local elections, Velasco and Revilla won as governor and vice governor, beating the tandem of Juanito Remulla Sr. and Danilo Lara.

As vice governor, he chaired Cavite's Provincial Task Force Against Illegal Gambling named "Task Force Sugal na Bawal", Cavite Multi-Agency Anti-Drug Council, and Task Force Bantay Likas Yaman. His anti-drug efforts earned him recognitions from the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, Inc. He also founded the Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. Foundation Inc. and the RRJ People's Organization Inc., where he served as chairman and president and chairman, respectively.

Governor of Cavite

In February 1998, Velasco resigned as governor of Cavite when he was appointed as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, replacing then senatorial candidate Robert Barbers. Revilla then assumed the governorship of the province. In the May 1998 local elections, he won a full term for the position of governor.

As governor, Revilla also chaired various civic organizations such as the Cavite Clean and Green project, Region IV Peace and Order Council, Calabarzon Development Council, Cavite Provincial Peace and Order Council, Provincial Development Council, and the Cavite Provincial Tourism Council. He also founded the Cavite Rescue 161, an emergency response unit of the province. During his term as governor, the Cavite Computer Center and the Cavite-Korea Friendship Hospital were established, while projects such as the Cavite Sports Complex and the Cavite Convention Center were commenced. The Proposed Conceptual Provincial Development Plan of Cavite, also called Vision 2020, was also furnished during this term.

He completed a Special Local Chief Executive Program on Local Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Pasig in 1998. He was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Press Club in 1998 and was named as Most Outstanding Governor of Gawad Papuri Awards in 1999 and Most Outstanding Governor of the Department of Health Sandugo National Program in 2000.

During the Second EDSA Revolution from January 16 to 20, 2001, Revilla's political career deteriorated when he called for the resignation of his godfather, President Joseph Estrada, who was impeached and removed from office due to graft and corruption charges, at the height of the protest. In his May 2001 reelection bid for governor, he was trounced by then-Representative Ayong Maliksi by a wide margin.

He returned to his acting career and became a TV actor in GMA Network's sitcom ''Idol Ko si Kap''.

Chair of the Videogram Regulatory Board

In July 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Revilla as chair of the Videogram Regulatory Board (now Optical Media Board). Revilla launched a massive campaign against the rampant smuggling and selling of fake VCDs all over the country. The Board was able to conduct 3480 major operations including routine inspections throughout the Philippines which seized goods worth over , convicted 21 optical disc pirates, 2 videotape pirates and 5 large-scale distributors and retailers. He was given a ''Plaque of International Recognition for Efforts Against Piracy'' by the Motion Picture Association of America on July 23, 2003, and the Huwarang Lingkod Bayan Award by the Consumers League of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. on October 25, 2003.

He also completed his course on Philippine Legislative Institutions and Processes at the Development Academy of the Philippines in November 2003.

Senator

In February 2004, Revilla resigned as chair of the VRB and recommended Edu Manzano as his replacement. His father, Ramon Revilla Sr., ended his term as senator on June 30, 2004, upon being term-limited by the 1987 Philippine Constitution after serving two consecutive terms since 1992. He ran for the position of senator under the administration K-4 coalition. He won and received the second highest number of votes from the national electorate.

During the 14th Congress, Revilla was named as chair of the Senate Committees on Public Works and on Public Services, which he used to push his travel safety advocacies. He authored the Mandatory Helmet Act, which obliged all motorcycle riders, including back riders, to wear standard protective helmet to reduce motorcycle-related accidents in the country. Because of the said road safety measure, he was named Safety Ambassador both by the Land Transportation Office and Suzuki Philippines Inc. During the 15th Congress, he pursued policies on social justice, travel safety, lower tax, community empowerment and infrastructure development. He also pushed for the passage of his separate bills that would grant wage increase for private sector and government employees.

He was reelected for a second consecutive term with the highest number of votes in 2010, serving until 2016. On May 29, 2012, Revilla was one of the 20 senator-judges who voted to convict Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Potential presidential bid

Despite the weakness of the Lakas party due to the arrest of former president and Pampanga 2nd district Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Revilla became chair of the party on February 5, 2013. He succeeded Albay 1st district Representative Edcel Lagman and was to potentially run as standard bearer of the party in the 2016 presidential election. On May 13, 2013, the day of the 2013 elections, the Cavite Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation raided the house of Revilla, and according to Revilla, he was harassed by the group of Senator Panfilo Lacson and former Governor Ayong Maliksi.

Involvement in the pork barrel scam

After the 2013 elections, he was allegedly involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam, along with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Jinggoy Estrada, contributing to entrepreneur Janet Lim-Napoles' bogus foundations.

The Commission on Audit, in its two-year investigation released on August 16, 2013, reported on the questionable release of the Priority Development Assistance Fund by 12 senators, including Revilla, and 180 representatives of Congress. A month later, the National Bureau of Investigation filed plunder cases against Revilla, Enrile, and Estrada.

On January 20, 2014, in his privilege speech to the Senate, he criticized the Aquino administration, revealing that he was talked to by the President along with then-Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas and Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad to convince him to convict the Chief Justice, Renato Corona.

The Office of the Ombudsman, on April 1, 2014, found probable cause to indict Revilla, Enrile, Estrada, and Napoles with plunder, and filed plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan on June 6, 2014.

On June 9, 2014, Revilla delivered a second privilege speech entitled "'' Salamat, Kaibigan''", as charges were filed against him in the Sandiganbayan. On June 20, the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against Revilla and more than 30 others. Revilla proceeded to the Sandiganbayan to surrender, and he chose to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The Sandiganbayan suspended Revilla from public office and his senior aide Richard Cambe on August 4, 2014, for 90 days. Revilla's bank accounts were frozen in 2015 as a consequence of the alleged involvement in the scam.

His trial for plunder was rescheduled several times due to various motions filed by Revilla. The trial finally began on June 22, 2017.

Acquittal, ongoing cases, and return as senator

In 2018, Revilla through his wife, then Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado, filed his candidacy for senator for the 2019 elections, with the endorsement of Presidential Daughter and '' de facto'' First Lady Sara Duterte, who is the leader of the political coalition Hugpong ng Pagbabago in order to include him to her 14 (later 16)-candidate slate for the Senate election in May 2019, which was criticized by opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas due to his involvement in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam with Jinggoy Estrada. On December 7, 2018, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Revilla of plunder in the PDAF scam. He still faces charges for 16 counts of graft, for which he posted bail. His chief aide Richard Cambe and PDAF scam mastermind Janet Napoles were convicted.

As part of his campaign, Revilla released a campaign video that featured himself and a group of children and his son Jolo dancing to '' budots''. Revilla describe his decision to dance as part of his campaign as an "accident" and said he was encouraged by his son Jolo to do so. The campaign went viral. He was elected to the Senate, placing eleventh in the 2019 elections. He credits his acquittal and the ''budots'' ad campaign for his successful election.

In September 2021, the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) Law, which regulated and legalized POGOs nationwide, was signed into law by President Duterte. Senator Revilla voted in favor of the controversial law that legalized gambling corporations known for illegal activities, ranging from tax evasions to harboring illegal Chinese nationals.

On November 17, 2021, he offered Davao City Mayor and 2022 vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte the chairmanship of Lakas-CMD, which she later accepted, succeeding him. He later became one of the party's co-chairpersons. Revilla currently chairs the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation and the Senate Committee on Public Works.

In December 2022, Revilla sponsored a Senate bill proposing to lower the age by which senior citizen benefits can be enjoyed, from 60 to 56 years old. Revilla celebrated his 56th birthday September of this year, which he marked with a month-long celebration, which included grocery, cash, and other giveaways.

On May 19, 2023, Revilla was reinstalled as chairman of Lakas–CMD, replacing Sara Duterte, who left the party earlier that day.

Failed reelection bid in 2025

Revilla sought re-election in the 2025 Philippine Senate election under the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition of President Bongbong Marcos. Dismissed by critics as Mr. ''Budots'', Revilla says he passed 343 passed bills and higlighted laws which benefited teachers, students, and senior citizens.

Revilla lost, placing 14th in the official tally.He admitted to being sad on the lost and believes that misinformation around his PDAF case was the reason why he lost. With the support of his counsel, Raymond Fortun, Revilla plans to file cyberlibel charges against online content creators who mostly posted critical content against Revilla two weeks in the lead up to the election. The consistent position of content creators is that Revilla must return the to the national treasury, however Revilla's camp dispute this since he was not found to be criminally liable for plunder he is no longer required to return the funds. They cite Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, which states that "every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable."

Personal life

Ramon "Bong" Bautista Bong Revilla Jr. (after his 2009 legal name change) married Lani Mercado (Jesusa Victoria Hernandez-Bautista), an actress and incumbent representative of the 2nd district of Cavite that comprises only Bacoor, in a civil wedding in 1986. They have seven children, namely:
* Leonard Bryan Bautista (Bryan Revilla, born in November 1986), representative for Agimat Partylist
* Jose Lorenzo Bautista III (Ramon "Jolo" Revilla III, born in March 1988), representative from Cavite–1st, married to Angelica Alita
* Inah Felicia Bautista-Del Rosario (Inah Revilla, born in October 1989), married to Vince del Rosario
* Maria Alexandra Bautista (1990–1990/1991)
* Ma. Viktoria Gianna Bautista (born in August 1995), married to Jed Patricio. In 2024, Gianna announced her pregnancy with her first child at the same time revealed a medical ultrasound photo of her miscarriage in 2023.
* Ma. Franzel Loudette Bautista (born in October 1997)
* Ramon Vicente "Ramboy/RV" Bautista (Ram Revilla, born in December 1998), board member of Cavite from the 2nd district and Cavite vice governor-elect

In 2024, Revilla confirmed fathering illegitimate children but never revealed their names nor their mothers. It was previously confirmed that Revilla had an affair with Lovely Guzman, a non-showbiz personality whom he had dated before marrying Mercado, and, together, they have one son named Luigi (born Francis Luigi Guzman in 1992). Guzman in 1999 later married Patrick Joseph Santos, who also legally adopted Luigi. Revilla's relationship with Guzman rekindled after he lost his daughter with Mercado, named Maria Alexandra, who died just 26 days after birth due to a heart condition resulted by the use of contraceptives. Mercado chose to stay with him due to her love for him and their children.

Revilla is the fourth of the seven children of actor and former Philippine senator Ramon Revilla Sr. and Azucena Mortel Bautista. He is the younger brother of Marlon Bautista, a former nominee of 1-Pacman Party List, and the older brother of incumbent Bacoor mayor Strike Revilla and former Antipolo mayor Andrea Bautista-Ynares, who is married to former Rizal governor Casimiro "Jun" Ynares III. He also has at least 32 paternal half-siblings, including actor Ram Revilla, who was murdered in 2011.

Honors and awards

Entertainment awards

Honorary doctorates

Two universities have conferred Revilla with honorary doctorates:
*Cavite State University (2005, Doctor of Public Administration)
* Nueva Vizcaya State University (2006, Doctor of Humanities)

Other recognitions

*Adopted Son of Sablayan – Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro Resolution No. 2024-SDM335

Filmography

Film

Television

Producer

*''Alyas Pogi 2'' (1991) (executive producer - as Jose Mari Bautista)
*''Ako Ang Katarungan (Lt. Napoleon M. Guevarra)'' (1993) (producer - Jose Mari Bautista)
*''Iukit Mo sa Bala!'' (1994) (producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
*''Ang Titser Kong Pogi'' (1995) (executive producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
*''Kung Marunong Kang Magdasal, Umpisahan Mo Na'' (1996) (producer - as Jose Mari Bautista)
*''Yes Darling: Walang Matigas na Pulis 2'' (1997) (producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
*''Sabi Mo Mahal Mo Ako, Wala Ng Bawian'' (1997) (producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)
*''Pepeng Agimat'' (1999) (line producer - as Jose Mari Bautista)
*''Minsan ko Lang Sasabihin'' (2000) (line producer - as Jose Mari M. Bautista)

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Revilla, Bong
1966 births
Living people
Arroyo administration personnel
Comedians from Cavite
Comedians from Manila
Filipino male child actors
Filipino actor-politicians
Filipino film directors
Filipino film producers
Filipino male comedians
Filipino Roman Catholics
GMA Network (company) people
Governors of Cavite
Heads of government agencies of the Philippines
Lakas–CMD politicians
Male actors from Cavite
Male actors from Manila
People from Bacoor
Bong
Senators of the 13th Congress of the Philippines
Senators of the 14th Congress of the Philippines
Senators of the 15th Congress of the Philippines
Senators of the 16th Congress of the Philippines
Senators of the 18th Congress of the Philippines
Senators of the 19th Congress of the Philippines