Members of several religious organizations gathered outside the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday to protest the anti-graft court’s decision granting provisional bail to former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in his ongoing malversation case.

Demonstrators called for Revilla’s return to detention, expressing dismay over the court’s decision to allow temporary release on a P1 million cash bond for an offense typically non-bailable when evidence of guilt is strong.

Protest leaders voiced concern over eroding public trust in the judiciary, criticizing how the court handled the former lawmaker’s petition despite the gravity of the underlying charges.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the 31 July order permitting Revilla’s provisional release upon posting bail. The charges stemmed from an alleged P92.8-million anomalous flood control project in Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan, involving Revilla and six co-defendants.