NBI recommends prosecution of Co, Escudero, Villanueva, Revilla

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended the prosecution of several lawmakers, including former Senate President Chiz Escudero and former House Appropriations Chair Zaldy Co, for a case build-up in relation to the alleged anomalous flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). 

Also recommended for prosecution are Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada and former Senator Bong Revilla. 

The Department of Justice confirmed the recommendation in a statement released on Friday.

“The recommendation stems directly from the sworn testimonies of Engineer Henry Alcantara, Engineer Brice Hernandez, Engineer Jaypee Mendoza, and former (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. Their statements provided the basis for identifying these individuals as having sufficient preliminary links to the acts under investigation,” the DOJ said in a statement. 

On Tuesday, Alcantara admitted in a Senate probe that he worked with Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo in supposedly giving commissions off flood control projects to the camps of Estrada, Villanueva, Revilla, and Co. 

Two days later, Bernardo made a similar statement at the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. 

The lawmakers have denied the allegations.

"I vehemently deny the malicious allegations and innuendos made by former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo... By his own admission, he never had any contact with me directly regarding this matter—and I will prove that he is lying about my alleged involvement," Escudero said. 

In a statement, law firm Divina Law said that the allegations against Revilla were “absolutely untrue.”

Estrada and Villanueva have also denied the claims.

Co, meanwhile, on Friday wrote to House Speaker Fautino Dy as he denied receiving billions worth of supposed payoffs from the government’s flood control projects. He added that he will return to the Philippines to clear his name over baseless allegations.

"I am also intent on belying the false claims made against me before the proper forum. I received no funds in connection with DPWH projects," said Co. 

The NBI has also recommended the prosecution of Alias “Beng Ramos,” Alias “Mina,” Undersecretary Mary Mitzi “Mich” Lim Cajayon-Uy, Mr. Maynard S. Ngu, Ms. Carleen Y. Villa, Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, Mr. John Carlo Rivera, Ms. Linda “Victoria” Macanas, Mr. Juanito Mendoza, CPA, Ms. Sally Nicolas Santos, Mr. Jesse Mahusay, Alias “Andrei Balatbat,” Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza, and Engineer Arjay D. Domasig.

"The DOJ will now subject this recommendation to rigorous case build-up under the National Prosecution Service. No one is above the law, and no position, title, or influence will shield anyone from accountability. Those named will be required to answer, under the rule of law, the serious allegations now standing against them," said the DOJ.

The Justice Department also pointed out that the names in the recommendation are “not a matter of speculation or rumor” and they are the “result” of sworn testimony under oath.” 

“Significantly, the DOJ is ready, at any time, to turn over the files and all supporting documents to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI). We trust that an independent body is in the best position to conduct a holistic evaluation of all the evidence, free from the distortions of politics or speculation,” added the DOJ. —VAL, GMA Integrated News