Senator of the Philippines

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla

Bong Revilla

Ramon Bautista Bong Revilla Jr.[a] (Tagalog: [rɛˈbiʎɐ]; born Jose

Mari Bautista;[3] September 25, 1966[1]) and commonly known
as Bong Revilla, is a Filipino actor, 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.[4] 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 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 Napoles 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 ₱124.5
million (US$2.53 million) in civil liability.[6][7] He stood accused of 16
counts of graft for his alleged role in the transfer of ₱517 million
(US$10.5 million) of his discretionary funds to bogus foundations
until all cases was junked by Sandiganbayan on 2021, however, he
has yet to return the required amount he was asked to give back
before his acquittal.[8][9][10][11] He later secured a comeback to the
Senate in 2019.
Early life and education

 Bong Revilla was born as Jose Mari Bautista to actor

Jose Acuña Bautista Sr. (known professionally as 
Ramon Revilla) and Azucena Mortel.[12] In 1977, he
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.
 Acting career
 He starred in a number of action films during the 1980s and the 1990s. In a few films
he worked alongside his father, Ramón Sr. He has also appeared in a number of
comedy films and television shows with GMA Network.
 As a native of Bacoor, Cavite, he made several films focused on his home province.[
citation needed]

 Revilla's acting career was put onto hiatus due to being arrested for graft and plunder
charges. After five years of detainment, he returned to acting under GMA Network. He
became part of his drama fantasy series for kids entitled Agimat ng Agila,[14]
 alongside Sanya Lopez, Allen Dizon, and Roi Vinzon.
Political career
 Vice-Governor of Cavite[edit]
 In June 1994, Revilla became a member of the then-ruling 
Lakas–NUCD party, which drafted him to be their
gubernatorial candidate in Cavite.[16] According to him, it
was President Fidel V. Ramos who first convinced him to
enter politics and invited him to join the party.[17] 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.
[18]
 His anti-drug efforts earned him recognitions from
the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers
Association, Inc.[19] 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 on January 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.[13][20] 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.