Metro Manila, Philippines – January may close with new developments in the flood control corruption scandal, including subpoenas against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works Secretary Manny Bonoan, and the completion of the Department of Justice’s preliminary probe on Senator Joel Villanueva.
Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon gave a rundown of what’s expected next week in a media forum on Thursday, Jan. 22.
“Subpoenas will be issued already as far as the plunder case of Senator Jinggoy is concerned. We’re hoping this week or early next week,” Fadullon said.
He said Bonoan is a co-respondent in the plunder complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation with the DOJ.
“Bibigyan din sila ng kaukulang panahon para makasagot [They will also be given the appropriate period to submit their responses],” Fadullon said, noting that the process, including the preliminary investigation, may last for 60 days or two months.
Meanwhile, the preliminary probe on the complaint against Villanueva for non-bailable malversation of public funds and other charges is nearing completion, Fadullon said, and may be submitted for resolution within the month.
“Ang kaso ay kasalukuyan na dumadaan sa pagsusuri, sa isang preliminary investigation at inaasahan po natin na matatapos na ito bago man matapos itong buwan… so the case can be submitted for resolution,” he said.
[Translation: The case is currently undergoing evaluation in a preliminary investigation, and we expect it to be completed before the end of the month so it can be submitted for resolution.]
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez earlier said Villanueva is a respondent in three out of six cases against contractors Wawao Builders and Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc., which are alleged to have been involved in ghost or nonexistent flood control projects in Bulacan, the senator’s home province.
The DOJ is also set to issue subpoenas for the plunder complaints against former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
On top of these cases, the two former lawmakers have already been charged at the Sandiganbayan — Co for plunder and Revilla for graft and malversation — over anomalous flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro and Bulacan, respectively.
Revilla is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail, while Co remains in hiding, reportedly in Portugal.
Estrada, Bonoan, Villanueva, Co, and Revilla have all denied any involvement in anomalous flood control projects and kickbacks.
