Senate Blue Ribbon report may be used for leads in flood control mess — DOJ

The Department of Justice (DOJ) may use the official report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for pursing leads in relation to the multi-billion peso flood control corruption scandal, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said Friday.

"At best, it may be considered as leads that the department can follow and look into," Fadullon said in a press briefing.

Fadullon said it may be premature to make a statement regarding the draft report until the DOJ gets a copy of the official committee report.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson previously said the draft committee report is poised to recommend the filing of criminal and administrative charges against senators and former lawmakers in connection with its investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

Lacson said the draft committee report includes Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and Francis "Chiz" Escudero, former Senator Bong Revilla Jr., former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, and former Caloocan representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy.

However, Senate President Vicente Sotto III previously emphasized that the draft committee report is not yet "an official report" and remains subject to discussion.

Villanueva faces a malversation complaint, while Estrada and Revilla face separate plunder complaints filed with the Justice Department.

According to Fadullon, Villanueva's malversation complaints have been submitted for resolution.

Villanueva is a respondent in three of the six complaints involving Wawao Builders and Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.

According to Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez, Villanueva has submitted counter-affidavits in relation to the complaints filed against him.

"Kumpleto na 'yung documents… for them to make their finding whether or not prima facie evidence exists," Martinez said.

(The documents are complete… for them to make their finding whether or not prima facie evidence exists.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News