Jinggoy, Bonoan plunder complaint submitted for resolution — DOJ

Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez on Thursday said that the plunder complaint filed against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and others with the Department of Justice (DOJ) over alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan has been submitted for resolution.

This came after Estrada personally filed his counter-affidavit, where his camp questioned the admissibility and credibility of the evidence.

“Everyone has filed their counter-affidavits. Which means that as of this date, March 12, the case [is] now submitted for resolution,” Martinez said in an ambush interview.

“We have 60 days to resolve it, extendible by 30, unless any other incident may be pending, which we know na wala na. So submitted na for reso. So let’s wait for the resolution,” he said.

(We have 60 days to resolve it, extendible by 30, unless any other incident may be pending, which we know that there is nonw. So it is submitted for resolution. So let’s wait for the resolution.)

Martinez said the complaint was for plunder, alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officers.

Estrada’s co-respondents are former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former DPWH undersecretaries Maria Catalina Cabral (deceased) and Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH regional director Gerard Opulencia, and former district engineer Henry Alcantara.

Bonoan filed his counter-affidavit in February.

Martinez previously said the plunder complaint is not confined to a single project or locality. Instead, it covers allegations of the acquisition of ill-gotten wealth amounting to more than P50 million, allegedly obtained through a combination or series of transactions.

Alcantara previously tagged Estrada as the proponent of P355 million worth of flood control projects. 

Meanwhile, Bernardo accused Estrada of receiving kickbacks from millions worth of projects included in the National Expenditure Program for 2024. — RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News