DOJ to subpoena respondents in 5 alleged ‘ghost’ flood control projects in Bulacan

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday that it would soon issue subpoenas to former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials who are respondents  in cases involving anomalous flood control projects in the first district of Bulacan.

The said cases were the ones returned by the Office of the Ombudsman for preliminary investigation.

“So far, the records of the cases coming from the Ombudsman got with the department, I think Monday or Tuesday this week, and the same has already been assigned to panel of prosecutors to investigate the same. Subpoenas will be forthcoming. We are hoping to have it sent out within the week, but the latest would be by next week,” said Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon in a press briefing. 

Among the respondents in the said cases are former Bulacan 1st district engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, he said. 

“These cover quite a number of respondents, the more prominent of them, you would already know would be Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Domasig, JP Mendoza, and several other personalities,” the prosecutor general said. 

“The five cases are focusing on the participation of the district engineering office of Bulacan I. So sila muna yung subject ng mga cases na ito as this involves also contractors who actually lent their licenses for the purposes of being able to get that flood control project.” 

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the five cases were returned to the Department of Justice to prevent a repeat of the process done by his office. He said the DOJ also already has the witnesses.

The preliminary investigation period, Remulla said, will also allow those charged to file their answer to the allegations. —RF, GMA Integrated News