Bong Revilla blames ‘fake news’ for election loss. What are the facts?

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Senator Bong Revilla is set to file cases against disinformation peddlers, which he claims cost him his reelection

MANILA, Philippines — After failing to secure a Senate reelection, Senator Bong Revilla, through his lawyer, announced plans to file cases against individuals who spread disinformation about him, which he claims negatively affected his campaign.

“After consulting with his family, Senator Revilla has decided to defend his and his family’s reputation by exercising the legal remedies for people whose reputations are harmed through online platforms like social media,” said lawyer Raymond Fortun on Monday, May 26.

Fortun said that “certain groups and individuals,” whom he did not name, spread “fake news” on social media. He added that this “false” information was accepted as “gospel truth” by Filipino voters.

“These evil-minded individuals and groups succeeded in their plan, but they will be made to answer for their misdeeds before the court of law,” Fortun said.

Revilla placed 14th in the senatorial race, falling short of the so-called “Magic 12.” He garnered 11,980,023 votes. Prior to the elections, he consistently ranked within the winning circle in pre-election surveys. In the final Pulse Asia survey released a week before the elections, he was comfortably ranked between fifth and eighth.

The results of the midterm elections surprised many, particularly the impressive wins of opposition-allied candidates Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, who placed second and fifth, respectively. Political analysts attribute these surprising outcomes to strong youth voter turnout and Filipinos’ desire for change.

The facts

During a press briefing, Fortun showed Senate reporters a social media post he claimed was “fake news” shared by a certain individual. The post, dated May 7, said that Revilla was ordered to return P124 million, seemingly in connection with the PDAF scam case he had faced.

“Yung nagnanakaw talaga sa bayan, dapat kinakailangan hatulan kamatayan para matigil na ‘yan,” the quote card reads. (Those who really steal from the nation should be sentenced to death so that it would finally stop.)

Revilla was acquitted of plunder in 2018, after prosecution failed to prove that he benefited from the pork barrel scam, which was set up by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles. Although Revilla was acquitted, the Sandiganbayan Special First Division, voting 3-2, still ordered the “accused [to] solidarily and jointly” return the P124.5 million to the national treasury.

In 2021, following the plunder acquittal, Revilla was acquitted of the related graft charges, clearing him of criminal liabilities in the pork barrel scam. 

However, Revilla’s camp argues that he should not be required to return the amount, citing his acquittal. They refer to Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code, which states that “every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable.” Since Revilla was acquitted, they maintain he bears no civil liability and therefore has no obligation to return the amount.

Rappler has extensively reported on Revilla’s case. Read them here:

• 5 years on, court yet to collect P124M in Revilla pork barrel scam
• Ombudsman: Revilla must pay back plundered P124.5M
• Sandiganbayan dissenters: Bong Revilla’s graft acquittal ‘a stretch of logic’
• Revilla concealed unexplained wealth, liable for graft – dissenting justice
• Sandiganbayan dissenters: Bong Revilla’s graft acquittal ‘a stretch of logic’
• ‘Forged signatures’ theory acquits Revilla in plunder case

– With reports from Lian Buan/Rappler.com