Bong Revilla

Ramon Bautista Bong Revilla Jr. (Tagalog: [rɛˈbiljɐ]; born Jose Mari Mortel Bautista; September 25, 1966) is a Filipino former actor and politician who served as a senator from 2004 to 2016 and again from 2019 to 2025.

The son of actor-politician Ramon Revilla Sr., he himself became an action star in the 1980s and 1990s as Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., starring in the Alyas Pogi film series as the titular policeman Henry Cruz. 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 (now the Optical Media 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 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.

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. 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 were dismissed by Sandiganbayan on 2021; however, he has yet to return the required amount he was asked to give back before his acquittal. He successfully ran for a third term in the Senate in 2019 and sought a re-election in 2025 but lost. Since January 2026, he is currently being detained over alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.

Bong Revilla was born as Jose Mari Mortel Bautista Jr. to actor Jose Acuña Bautista Sr. (1927–2020, known professionally as Ramon Revilla) and Azucena Mortel (1944–1998). He has over 70 siblings, with his father once claiming that the number is probably above 80. His six siblings are Marlon, Rowena, Rebecca ("Princess", born 1965), Strike (né Edwin, born 1970), Andrea (born 1975) and Diane, and among his half-siblings are Evelyn and Ramgen Jose ("Ram", 1988-2011).

In 1977, Bong Revilla 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. Ramon Revilla encouraged Bong Revilla to be a doctor, but the younger Revilla committed to pursuing his acting career.

Bong Revilla entered the showbiz industry in 1973. He debuted in the film Tiagong Akyat as a seven-year old child actor. It was produced by the Revilla family-owned Imus Production and starred his father Ramon Revilla and Aurora Salve.

In the early 1980s, Revilla as a 14-year old featured in the film Bianong Bulag which also starred his father and Charito Solis. The younger Revilla played the role of the young version of the titular protagonist. The father and son also acted in the 1983 film Dugong Buhay.