DOJ endorses findings on malversation complaints vs. Villanueva to Ombudsman

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has endorsed its findings on the malversation complaints filed against Senator Joel Villanueva over ghost flood control projects to the Ombudsman, Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said Tuesday.

Martinez declined to divulge the recommendation made by the prosecutors.

“Those three cases have been officially endorsed to the Ombudsman,” Martinez said in an ambush interview.

“At that point, the Ombudsman will then review the findings of the DOJ prosecutors and then issue its own review resolution, see if it agrees with the findings by our prosecutors, and file the case added the Sandiganbayan if it does find the quantum of evidence necessary,” he added.

According to the official, the endorsement occurred last week.

Martinez stressed that the DOJ was only deputized to conduct the preliminary investigation for the complaints, but he said the cases must be transmitted to the Ombudsman afterward.

Villanueva is a respondent in three complaints regarding alleged ghost flood control projects in Bulacan involving contracting firms Wawao Builders and Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.

The complaints were for malversation, alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, corruption of public officials, and alleged violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Villanueva was linked to the flood control controversy by dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara in September 2025.

The senator has denied the allegations against him, asserting that he has "nothing to hide." — BM, GMA Integrated News