Bong Revilla

Ramon Bautista Bong Revilla Jr. (born Jose Mari Bautista; September 25, 1966 ) and commonly known as Bong Revilla, is a Filipino actor, director, producer, television presenter and politician serving as a Senator since 2019, and previously from 2004 to 2016.

In 1977, he finished his elementary education at Jesus Good Shepherd School in Palico II, Imus, Cavite.

The son of actor-politician Ramon Revilla Sr., he himself became an action star in the 1980s and 1990s as Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. He started his political career in Cavite, serving as vice governor (1995–1998) and later governor (1998–2001).

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.

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, alongside Sanya Lopez, Allen Dizon, and Roi Vinzon.

He finished his secondary education at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1982.

In June 1994, Revilla became a member of the then-ruling Lakas–NUCD party, which drafted him to be their gubernatorial candidate in Cavite.

According to him, it was President Fidel V. Ramos who first convinced him to enter politics and invited him to join the party.

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.

His anti-drug efforts earned him recognitions from the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, Inc. 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.

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.

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 from January 16 to 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.

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.

He was the chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board from 2002 to 2004.

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

Revilla launched a massive campaign against the rampant smuggling and selling of fake VCDs all over the country.

The Board was able to conduct 3480 major operations including routine inspections throughout the Philippines which seized goods worth over ₱5 billion, convicted 21 optical disc pirates, 2 videotape pirates and 5 large-scale distributors and retailers.

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$million) in civil liability.

He stood accused of 16 counts of graft for his alleged role in the transfer of ₱517 million (US$ 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.

He later secured a comeback to the Senate in 2019.

Bong Revilla was born as Jose Mari Mortel Bautista Jr. to actor Jose Acuña Bautista Sr. (known professionally as Ramon Revilla) and Azucena Mortel.

The Proposed Conceptual Provincial Development Plan of Cavite, also called Vision 2020, was also furnished during this term.