'Flood control anomalies' cases to be filed vs. lawmakers? Palace says up to Ombudsman

It is up to the Office of the Ombudsman to work on its own timeline as regards the filing of charges against personalities, including lawmakers, involved in the flood control anomalies, Malacañang said Thursday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked about the statement of Senator Imee Marcos, saying that charges will be filed this month against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former senator Bong Revilla, over their alleged links to the anomalies in the flood control projects.

Imee claimed that the filing of charges would be on January 15.  

''Ayaw nating pangunahan kung ano ang magiging trabaho ng Ombudsman at ng DOJ, as far as we are concerned may mga nasampahan na po ng kaso. Ang DPWH nagsampa na po ng kaso, ang ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) po nagrekomenda na po ng for filing of the cases,'' Castro said.

(We don't want to go ahead with the work of the Ombudsman and the DOJ, as far as we are concerned, cases have been filed already. The DPWH already filed cases and the ICI recommended the filing of charges.) 

''Nasa kamay na po ng Ombudsman 'yan kung ano ang timeline nila so ayaw po natin pangunahan. Kung January 15 ang pinakamaaga, magandang balita po 'yan,'' she added.

(It's up to the Ombudsman to work on their own timeline. If it's January 15, then it's good news.)

Imee also said charges will also be filed against CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Edvic Yap.

ICI

Meanwhile, asked if President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is expecting theIC) to wind down its work by February, Castro said she could not say that.

She said the President wants to have a law that will create an independent commission, which may look into infrastructure projects.

''Iniexpect ng Pangulo, sa ngayon... hindi po... hindi ko po masasabi na ineexpect niya po yan ang ineexpect po ng pangulo ay magkaroon ng batas para magkaroon ng independent commission,'' she said.

(I can't say that he's expecting that but he wants to have a law that will create an independent commission.) 

The President earlier urged the Congress to prioritize the passage of the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) Act.

The measure aims to establish a permanent, independent, and non-partisan commission that would investigate alleged anomalies and corruption in infrastructure projects at the national, local government unit, and government-owned and -controlled corporation levels. —VAL, GMA Integrated News