SP Sotto on ICI reco vs Estrada, Villanueva: Follow the rule of law

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday emphasized the importance of observing the due process of law, following the recommendation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to the Ombudsman to file plunder, bribery, and corruption complaints against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, among others.

Sotto said this when asked by the media of the actions that the Senate will undertake should the Office of the Ombudsman pursue the recommendations of the Palace-created ICI amid its probe into the anomalous flood control projects.

“There are constitutional, legal and political issues to these investigations. And there will be as many opinions as there are lawyers. I would rather be prudent and follow the rule of law and avoid putting the Senate in the line of fire,” the Senate President said.

“We have due process in law and a system of check and balance in the government to balance and protect the rights of individuals and institutions as well,” he added.

To recall, former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez had alleged that Villanueva and Estrada received at least 30% in kickbacks from nearly P1 billion worth of flood control projects in the Bulacan province.

Dismissed Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara also admitted that he worked with Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo in giving commissions off flood control projects to the the camps of Villanueva, Estrada, as well as former senator Bong Revilla, Jr., former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and former Caloocan representative Mitch Cajayon.

The personalities implicated have since denied the allegations against them.

Aside from Villanueva and Estrada, the ICI on Wednesday also recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of complaints against Co, Cajayon, Bernardo, and Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana.

Innocent, ready for defense

Villanueva, in response, maintained that he is innocent, saying that his camp will await the action of the Ombudsman on the recommendation.

“Nevertheless, records of the Senate will show that I have been against flood control projects from the very beginning. I was the one who exposed and questioned these flood control projects that have not been implemented,” Villanueva said.

Estrada, meanwhile, said he is also ready to defend himself to prove his innocence.

“Wala akong tinanggap na anumang pondong nakalaan para sa mga flood control projects, at kaya kong patunayan ito sa hukuman. Ang mga paratang laban sa akin ay pawang hearsay o batay lamang sa sabi-sabi,” Estrada said in a statement.

(I did not accept any funds for flood control projects, and I can prove this in court. The allegations against me are all based on hearsay.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News