Ombudsman to evaluate five cases linked to flood control mess
Metro Manila, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman will evaluate five cases against officials of the Bulacan district engineering office and government contractors in the flood control mess.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) turned over the cases on Tuesday, Oct. 14, that involve malversation, falsification by public officers, perjury, and violation of the anti-graft law over “ghost” or non-existent flood control projects in the first district of Bulacan.
The ombudsman said it will assess personalities to include Henry Alcantara, former Department of Public Works and Highways - Bulacan 1st district engineer; assistant engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza; and SYMS Construction owner Sally Santos.
“It (The documents) can stand already in court kaya lang ang gusto talaga natin, talagang lubus-lubusin na para ‘pag file, continuous trial, latag lahat, para for the record, tapos na kaagad,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a press briefing.
[Translation: It can stand already in court but what we want is when we file, the trial will be continuous to resolve cases immediately.]
“Hopefully, 10 working days would be sufficient to do it, baka less pa sa evaluation. ‘Yung PI (preliminary investigation) ‘yung medyo kailangan nating proseso na tupadin natin, basic rights ‘yan ng kahit sinong accused,” he said.
[Translation: Hopefully, 10 working days or less would be sufficient for evaluation. The PI is the process we need to ensure the basic rights of any accused.]
Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon and DOJ officer in charge Eric Vida said more cases will be recommended for evaluation.
“Meron tayong sinasabing proseso nga na kailangan sundin na kung saan siguraduhin natin at tiyakin natin na may ebidensya bago tayo magsampa ng kaso,” Fadullon said.
[Translation: We have a process to follow wherein we have to make sure there is evidence before we file a case.]
“Definitely, may kasunod pa at meron pang mas matataas na opisyal maliban sa mga nabanggit na rito,” Vida said.
[Translation: Definitely, there will be more cases and higher government officials will be held accountable aside from those mentioned.]
Alcantara, Hernandez, and Mendoza, during a congressional inquiry, have implicated a number of lawmakers in the flood control scandal, including Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and former Sen. Bong Revilla.
