DOJ refers flood control projects findings to Ombudsman for action

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday referred to the Office of the Ombudsman its recommendation to file graft, malversation, perjury and falsification of public documents charges against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office and contractors involved in five flood control projects.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who oversaw the case build-up as the former DOJ secretary, received the referral in the Ombudsman’s office. 

“Low hanging fruits ito. Open and shut cases. Ghost e. May lumabas na pera, may tumanggap ng pera, [pero] walang proyekto,” Remulla said. 

(These are low hanging fruits. Open and shut cases. Ghost [projects]. Money went out and someone received it but there was no project.)

“Ang tingin ko rito, mabibilisan natin ito. Wala nang atrasan ito. These are signed affidavits. The evaluation [of this referral] should take 10 to 15 [working] days....[that] would be sufficient to do it, but preliminary investigation would be longer,” Remulla added.

(From what I see, we can fast-track this. No stepping back.)

Among those the DOJ prosecutors recommended to be charged include:

• former DPWH Bulacan 1st District district engineer Henry Alcantara
• former DPWH Bulacan 1st District assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez
• former DPWH Bulacan 1st District assistant district engineer Jaypee Mendoza
•  DPWH Bulacan 1st District Project Engineer Niño Lawrence Morales
• DPWH Bulacan 1st District  Chief Accountant Juanito Mendoza
• DPWH Bids and Awards Committee member Florayn Simbulan
• DPWH Cashier II Christina Mae Pineda and
• contractor Sally Santos of SYMS Construction.

Remulla, however, said the DOJ referral on Tuesday, October 14, only covers those government officials who are below Salary Grade 27.

This means that the first slew of cases will only be filed before regional trial courts, not the Sandiganbayan which handles cases against government officials who fall under Salary Grade 27 and above.

DOJ officer-in-charge Fredderick Vida said the recommendations for prosecution of those liable behind the flood control mess are just the first batch.

“It is the Ombudsman who has the power to prosecute corrupt public officials, but we [in the DOJ] have a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) with the Ombudsman. We are deputized [to do investigation] for those Salary Grade 26 and below. The Justice Department fulfilled its mandate in recommending this evidence to the Ombudsman, that is why we are here,” Vida said in the same press conference.

“Pero bahagi lamang ito. Patuloy ang aming proseso. Naglilikom pa kami [ng ebidensya]. ‘Yung tinitingnan natin na kasi marami pa. Marami pa. Definitely. may kasunod pa. At meron pang mga mas matataas na opisyal maliban sa mga nabanggit na ito,” Vida added.

(This is just a part of our recommendations. The process is still ongoing, and we are still gathering evidence. We are looking at many more. Definitely, more people will be charged, and they will include high-ranking officials.)

Last month, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended the filing of graft, malversation and indirect bribery charges against those involved in the anomalous flood control projects, namely:  Alcantara, Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and Caloocan Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy. —KG, GMA Integrated News