DOJ to Ombudsman: File plunder, graft raps vs. Jinggoy Estrada, Bonoan

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file plunder and graft charges against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, among others, over the alleged bid rigging of government projects to get kickbacks, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Monday.

Clavano said the recommendation on the filing of charges was received by the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday.

Aside from Estrada and Bonoan, other personalities that the DOJ wants the Ombudsman to charge include:

• Bong Dinglasan, DPWH Assistant District Engineer, North Manila
• Denryl Caesar Cortuna , Assistant District Engineer, North Manila
• Manny Bulusan, District Engineer, South Manila
• Arturo L. Gonzales, Jr.
• several John/Jane Does

“The preliminary investigation accumulated exhaustive evidence, including legislative records, Position Description Forms, and sworn transcripts from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings held on November 14, 2025, which detailed illicit maneuvers and alleged 30-percent cuts surrounding regional flood control projects,” Clavano said.

“Following months of evaluation, the submission of counter-affidavits, and extensive evidence-gathering, the DOJ panel concluded that there is an interconnected network of public officers who abused their official designations to manipulate project specifications, clear budgets, and rig public bidding workflows,” he added.

Aside from plunder and graft, the DOJ wants Estrada and the other public officials to face charges of direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers.

The DOJ also recommended filing charges for the corruption of public officials under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code against complicit private individuals and entities.

The DOJ also initially recommended the filing of the same set of charges against the late former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina "Cathy" Cabral, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, ex-DPWH regional director Gerard Opulencia and ex-DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office District Engineer Henry Alcantara.

However, charges were ultimately dropped because of Cabral’s death in December 2025.

Bernardo, Opulencia, and Alcantara were spared from charges since they were admitted as state witnesses under the government’s Witness Protection Program.

“The panel systematically evaluated the roles of each key respondent in the distribution and illegal acquisition of public funds. Notably, the panel recognized the strategic integration of critical insider testimonies,” Clavano said.

“Also, Respondents Bernardo, Opulencia, and Alcantara were formally granted coverage under the DOJ’s Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPBSP) pursuant to Republic Act No. 6981, as their direct personal knowledge was found vital to unraveling the bid-rigging scheme,” he added.

The Justice department's recommendation will still be evaluated by the Office of the Ombudsman, which has the final say on the prosecution of corrupt public officials.

“The next step will be to allow the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct its own independent review and resolution on the merits of the case. The possible outcomes of the Office’s independent evaluation include affirming the findings of the Department of Justice, amending the resolution, or reversing the findings altogether,” Clavano said.

GMA News Online is trying to get the reaction of the senator and will post his response as soon as available.—LDF, GMA Integrated News