Six flood control cases for preliminary probe this week - Remulla

Metro Manila, Philippines - Six flood control cases will go through preliminary investigation this week, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday, Oct. 20.

In a press briefing, Remulla said the cases include the substandard project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro and projects declared as finished and paid but actually non-existent in Bulacan.

In September, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure urged the Ombudsman to file criminal charges against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, a number of public works personnel, and officials of government contractor Sunwest Inc. over an almost P300-million road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

On Oct. 14, the Department of Justice turned over to the Ombudsman its findings on so-called ghost projects in Bulacan.

Recommended charges include malversation, falsification by public officers, perjury, and violation of the anti-graft law, against a number of district Bulacan engineers namely Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza, as well as Syms Construction Trading owner Sally Santos.

“Kung fact finding lang may pagtingin na ang DOJ. Just the same sa PI (preliminary investigation) pwede pa i-adjust lahat iyan. Just another day of evaluation, before we pass it on to PI before we form the panels that will conduct the preliminary investigation,” said Remulla.

In a separate briefing, the ICI said it will file its second batch of recommendation to the Ombudsman this week.

The commission probing anomalous infrastructure projects earlier said it will file up to 20 cases before the Ombudsman within the month. It has so far identified 421 ghost flood control projects nationwide.