Ramon Bautista Bong Revilla Jr.[a] (Tagalog: [rɛˈbiljɐ]; born Jose Mari Mortel Bautista;[1][4] September 25, 1966[2]) 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.

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.

[13] 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.

[citation needed] Revilla's acting career was put onto hiatus in 2014 due to being arrested for graft and plunder charges.

He became part of his drama fantasy series for kids entitled Agimat ng Agila,[15] alongside Sanya Lopez, Allen Dizon, and Roi Vinzon.

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.

[14] 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.

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

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.

He also pushed for the passage of his separate bills that would grant wage increase for private sector and government employees.

He succeeded Albay 1st district Representative Edcel Lagman and was to potentially run as standard bearer of the party in the 2016 presidential election.

[29] On June 9, 2014, Revilla delivered a second privilege speech entitled "Salamat, Kaibigan", as charges were filed against him in the Sandiganbayan.

Revilla proceeded to the Sandiganbayan to surrender, and he chose to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

[30] The Sandiganbayan suspended Revilla from public office and his senior aide Richard Cambe on August 4, 2014, for 90 days.

[33] In 2018, Revilla through his wife, then Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado, filed his candidacy for senator for the 2019 elections, with the endorsement of Presidential Daughter and de facto First Lady Sara Duterte, who is the leader of the political coalition Hugpong ng Pagbabago in order to include him to her 14 (later 16)-candidate slate for the Senate election in May 2019, which was criticized by opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas due to his involvement in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam with Jinggoy Estrada.

[37][38] On November 17, 2021, he offered Davao City Mayor and 2022 vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte the chairmanship of Lakas-CMD, which she later accepted, succeeding him.

A Revilla-sponsored Senate Bill in the Philippines this December 2022 is currently proposing to lower the age by which Senior Citizen benefits can be enjoyed, from 60 to 56 years old.

[53][54] Revilla's relationship with Guzman rekindled after he lost his daughter with Mercado, named Maria Alexandra, who died just 26 days after birth due to a heart condition resulted by the use of contraceptives.

[66] On April 18, he underwent an Achilles tendon rupture surgery at St. Luke's Medical Center – Global City, with recovery expected in three to five months.