Sandiganbayan drafting new rules for faster procedures ahead of flood control cases

The Sandiganbayan is drafting new rules to expedite filing of criminal cases and clearing dockets of old cases to prepare for the filing by the Ombudsman of information against officials and personalities involved in anomalous flood control project, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg said. 

“In anticipation of the cases to be filed by the Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan is currently in the process of drafting new rules on expedited procedure, which will be pilot tested upon the approval of the Supreme Court,” Econg said. 

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has said that his office would be filing the first information in the anomalous flood control controversy next month. 

The Ombudsman has received a complaint from the Department of Public Works and Highways on September 11 against former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Rep. Enginner Henry Alcantara, former Assistant District Engineer Engr. Brice Ericson Hernandez, Construction Section Chief John Michael Ramos, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang and 15 others. 

Also included in the complaint were private contractors Cezarah Sarah Discaya of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, Ma. Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corp., Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, Mark Allan Arevalo, Wawao Builders, Robert Imperio of IM Construction Corp. 

The said individuals were involved in P 249 million worth of anomalous flood control projects in Malolos, Hagonoy, Baliwag, Bulakan and Calumpit in Bulacan. 

“Kung September 11, malamang nag-subpoena na ‘yun. Pagka-file ng kaso, the court can issue a warrant immediately,” Remulla said on October 10 upon assumption to his office.

On September 18, former acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas has directed the six-month preventive suspension of 16 DPWH personnel

Remulla had also pitched creating a special division to exclusively try flood control projects case but Econg said no new division is being planned as of now. —AOL, GMA Integrated News