The Sandiganbayan Special Third Division ordered the temporary detention of ex-senator Ramon Bong Revilla. Jr. at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Barangay Payatas.

Sandiganbayan Special Third Division chairperson and Associate Justice Karl Miranda justified the court’s decision by citing the letter of Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Jose Nartatez Jr. cautioning the anti-graft court from further ordering the detention of persons deprived of liberty inside the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

The PNP Custodial Center is a facility where suspected terrorists, suspects most likely to escape, and suspects charged with heinous crimes are detained, making the addition of a high-risk detainee like Revilla “a burden on the part of the PNP” because of the additional financial and manpower resources it entails.

Revilla’s detention, however, is temporary since his camp filed a motion for him to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center.

The anti-graft court will hear Revilla’s motion on Friday, January 23.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday issued a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order against Revilla and six others on malversation case filed Friday by the Ombudsman over an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said allies and friends of President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will not be spared in the fight against corruption.

”Sa Pangulo naman sabi niya kahit kaalyado, kaibigan, wala dapat sinisino so kung mayroong mga ebidensya, wala pong magagawa ang Pangulo diyan. Kung kailangan isampa, isasampa ‘yan,” Castro said.

Castro said it would be better if Revilla would prove his innocence if indeed he has no links with these anomalies.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla assured the public that there would be no special treatment following the surrender Revilla.

Remulla said Revilla, whom he described as a long-time friend, personally called him after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest .

According to Remulla, he advised the former senator to voluntarily surrender to authorities.

“Matagal kaming magkasama ni Senator Bong sa Cavite. We’ve been lifelong friends ever since the 1980s. But duty calls; there are no exceptions to the rule,” Remulla said.

He stressed that Revilla would be treated like any other accused facing criminal charges.

“I assure you, walang magiging special treatment doon,” he added.