Bong Revilla

Ramón Bong Revilla, Jr.
Senator of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2004
Governor of Cavite
In office February 6, 1998 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	Epimaco Velasco
Succeeded by	Erineo Maliksi
Vice Governor of Cavite
In office June 30, 1995 – February 6, 1998
Preceded by	Danilo Lara
Succeeded by	Juanito Victor C. Remulla
Personal details
Born	(1966-09-25) September 25, 1966 Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Lakas-CMD
Spouse(s)	Lani Mercado (Jesusa Victoria H. Bautista)
Residence	Bacoor, Cavite
Occupation	actor, TV host, politician
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Website	Official website

Ramón Bong Revilla, Jr. (born José Marie Mortel Bautista on September 25, 1966^[1][2]) is a Filipino actor, television presenter, politician, and Senator of Philippines. In 2009, he legally changed his surname to Bong Revilla.^[2]

Early life and education

He was born José Marie to José Acuña Bautista (also known as Ramón Revilla) and Azucena Mortel.^[3] In 1979, he finished his elementary education at Jesus Good Shepherd School in Palico II, Imus, Cavite. He finished his secondary education at Fairfax High School (Los Angeles) at Los Angeles, California, United States in 1982.

Acting career

Revilla starred in numerous action movies during the 1980s and the 1990s. He also starred in a few movies alongside his father, Ramón Sr., a memorable one being the Viva Films' blockbuster film Dugong Buhay which was also remade for television in 2013. He has been involved in a number of comedy films and television shows with GMA-7.

As a native of Cavite, he made several films focused on his home province.

Political career

Vice-Governor and Governor of Cavite

He was invited by former NBI director Epimaco Velasco to be his running mate as vice governor of Cavite. In the 1995 local elections, Velasco and Revilla won as governor and vice governor, beating the tandem of Remulla and Lara.

In February 1998, Velasco resigned as governor of Cavite when he was appointed as secretary of Interior and Local Government replacing then Senatorial candidate Robert Barbers. Revilla assumed as the chief executive of the province.

In the May 1998 local elections, he won a full term for the position of governor.

In his May 2001 reelection bid for governor, he was trounced by then Representative Ayong S. Maliksi by a wide margin.

He returned to his acting career and became a TV actor in GMA-7's sitcom Idol ko si Kap.

Chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board

In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. as Chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board (now Optical Media Board). 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.

Senator

In February 2004, Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. resigned as Chairman of the VRB and recommended Eduardo "Edu" Manzano as his replacement. His father, Ramon Revilla, ended his term as senator on June 30, 2004. Revilla Sr. was elected senator in 1992, reelected in 1998, and could not run for third term according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. 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.

Potential Presidential bid and involvement in Pork Barrel Scam

with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada after the Revilla's speech Salamat, Kaibigan on June 9, 2014

Despite of weakness of Lakas party due to arrest of Rep. Gloria Arroyo, Revilla assumed the new Chairman of the party replacing Arroyo, and is to potentially run as standard bearer of the party in the 2016 Presidential Elections.^[4] On the election day, May 13, 2013, the Cavite PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation raided the house of Revilla, according to Revilla he was harassed by the group of Sen. Panfilo Lacson and former Gov. Ayong Maliksi. He denied he owns the high caliber firearms, which were confiscated on his home.^[5] After 2013 elections, he was allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam, along with then Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile, and Senator Jinggoy Estrada, contributing to Janet Lim-Napoles alleged bogus foundations. On January 20, 2014, in his privilege speech to the Senate, he criticizes the Aquino administration. He revealed he was talked by the President along with then DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas and Budget Sec. Florencio "Butch" Abad to convince him to convict the Chief Justice, Renato Corona^[6] He also lambast the President, due has frequently been criticized by Aquino, as he is allied with Aquino's primary enemy, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

On June 9, 2014, Revilla delivered a second privilege speech entitled "Salamat, Kaibigan", as charges were filed against him at the Sandiganbayan. On June 20, the Sandiganbayan issues a warrant of arrest against Revilla and more than 30 others. Revilla proceeded to Sandiganbayan to surrender, and he chose to be detained at PNP custodial center at Camp Crame.^[7] Revilla's bank accounts have been frozen as a consequence of the alleged involvement in the scam.^[8]

Personal life

Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. married Lani Mercado (Jesusa Victoria Hernandez-Bautista) current representative of the 2nd District of Cavite, which comprises only Bacoor City, in 1987 in a civil wedding. They have six children namely: Leonard Bryan Bautista (born in November 1986), Jose Lorenzo Bautista (Ramon "Jolo" Revilla III, born in March 1988) current Vice Governor of Cavite, Inah Felicia Bautista-Del Rosario (born in October 1989) married to Vince del Rosario, Ma. Viktoria Gianna Bautista (born in August 1995), Ma. Franzel Loudette Bautista (born in October 1997) and Ramon Vicente "Ramboy/RV" Bautista (born December 1998).

In the Philippine Centennial celebrations, Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. portrayed General Emilio Aguinaldo. To highlight the celebrations, he and Lani remarried in a church wedding using the same costume they used in the centennial program.

Ramon "Bong" Bong Revilla, Jr. is one of many children of former Philippines senator Ramon Revilla, Sr.. He is the older brother of Strike Revilla, the incumbent mayor of their hometown of Bacoor, Cavite and his sister Andrea Bautista-Ynares is currently married to Rizal Governor Casimiro "Jun" Ynares III. His younger half-brother Ram Revilla, also an actor, was recently murdered in his home, and declared dead in the early hours of October 29, 2011. He was 22.^[9]

2013 Personal film crisis

After his successful TV series Indio as his first drama show, he was supposed to make a movie adaptation of the said show which unfortunately was shelved and replaced as "My Super Kap". It was eventually scrapped-out due to casting problems.

His other project Ang Sugo: The Last Messenger was left out due to his personal involvement in the pork barrel scam issue. On that movie project, he was originally slated to portray the current Executive Minister, Eduardo V. Manalo but he was later replaced by Dennis Trillo.

Awards

Filmography

TV programs

Film

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)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bong Revilla.