DOJ Usec. Jojo Cadiz resigns amid flood control allegations

Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Jose “Jojo” Cadiz Jr. has resigned from the department after he was tagged as a “bagman” in anomalous flood control projects, Malacañang said Friday.

“Sa ating pagkakaalam siya po ay nag-submit na ng kanyang resignation,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing.

(As far as I know he has submitted his resignation. As far as I know.)

DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said Cadiz tendered his resignation at the Office of the President, as he was a presidential appointee.

“As to whether or not this appointment has been acted upon. We have no news yet,” Martinez said in a press briefing.

The DOJ previously said that Cadiz was on leave from November 21 to 28.

Martinez said he could not provide the exact date when Cadiz filed his resignation.

Cadiz was implicated by former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co as having allegedly received cash kickbacks purportedly on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Co alleged that he received orders from former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to give the money to Cadiz, who had access to the drop-off point near the President's residence.

When asked if the Malacañang could confirm if Cadiz is an associate or an aide of the Oresident at some point, Castro said she could not confirm this.

DOJ acting  Secretary Fredderick Vida previously said that the DOJ’s investigation into the corruption remains unaffected by the allegations.

Marcos and Romualdez have denied the allegations against them.

The office of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, has said that it will probe Cadiz's alleged links to the flood control mess.

“Definitely. That is something that the Ombudsman has to look into,” said  Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Friday.

“Given all the allegations, however, not yet sworn into, but there are other reports as well of his involvement. And so definitely there will be a fact-finding body that will be dedicated to that.. We will have to sift through the evidence. Wherever the evidence takes us, that's where we will go,” he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News