Sources from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) revealed that former senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr.’s sister had bagged almost Php 5 billion infrastructure development projects in the Revilla’ s bailiwick in Cavite.
This was learned following the temporary freedom given to the former legislator while he is being tried for alleged flood control corruption by the Sandiganbayan.
Based on alleged issues, Graia Construction Corporation, a company that lists Revilla’s younger sister Rebecca Bautista-Ocampo’s (also known as Princess Revilla) as president, was awarded 67 contracts worth Php 4.72 billion by the DPWH over the last nine years.
Insiders disclosed that the company got the contracts while Bautista-Ocampo’s two brothers and a nephew were lawmakers who had a hand in crafting the national budget, which included those of the DPWH.
Legal experts said that the infraction could constitute the possibility of conflict of interest, which is a crime under the anti-corruption law.
Accordingly, of the 67 projects cornered by Graia Construction, all except for two were in Cavite—particularly 55 in the Revilla family’s longtime political bailiwick of Bacoor that had a total amount of over Php 4 billion.
DPWH sources likewise noted that there are also four projects in Kawit, two in Noveleta and one in Cavite City—all in the province’s 1st District, a fairly new Revilla bailiwick after they defeated the Abaya political clan in 2022. The projects had a combined amount of Php 611 million.
It was also cited that Graia had three national road projects in Cavite: one along Tagaytay-Amadeo road and two along the Tanza-Indang highway, totaling Php 49.4 million.
The only Graia Construction projects outside of Cavite were in Obando, Bulacan which was awarded in 2016 and worth a combined Php 19.2 million for the construction of road dikes.
The project involved in the malversation case for which Bong Revilla is currently being tried by the anti-graft court is also located in Bulacan, in Pandi town, which is under another engineering district.
Attempts to inquire with Graia Construction regarding the cornered projects proved futile as of press time.