Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman filed a graft and plunder case against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the controversial flood control corruption scandal.
Filed on Thursday, May 28, two years after Estrada’s plunder acquittal in the pork barrel scam, the recommended no bail case seeks to charge Estrada with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“I want to emphasize this very clearly: our case is built on solid, immovable evidence,” the Ombudsman’s statement read.
“State witnesses have provided comprehensive, cross-corroborated sworn statements that map out the execution of this scheme from its inception down to the logistics of the illicit payouts,” the agency added.
Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan was also a respondent, along with Assistant District Engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna and District Engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales, Jr.
Estrada’s ties to the controversy floated after former DPWH-Bulacan District Engineer Brice Hernandez accused the lawmaker of receiving kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said investigation shows a total of over ₱573 million in kickback was systematically delivered to Estrada.
The senator has denied the accusations.
Commenting on the charges, Estrada was earlier quoted saying: “If this is the price that I have to face for standing on my own principles on what I believe in, so be it.”
The ombudsman said it is also pursuing a hold departure order for Estrada and the other respondents.
