8 flood mess cases filed in court next month

Seven to eight criminal cases are being readied for filing with the Sandiganbayan by next month in connection with anomalous flood control projects, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

He said the cases to be filed may include malversation of public funds, graft, or the complex crime of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

"We have seven or eight cases that we can file already in Sandiganbayan before the end of November," Remulla said in an interview with The STAR's "Truth on the Line" on Wednesday.

With the huge amounts involved, the malversation cases will be non-bailable and could warrant life in prison, he said.

Remulla commended the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for transmitting a report on its investigation to the ombudsman along with some pieces of evidence. The move, he said, will hasten the ombudsman’s preliminary investigation.

The ICI report covers the P289.5 million worth of flood control projects in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 4-B through contractor Sunwest Inc. in 2024.

In its report, the ICI urged the ombudsman to determine appropriate charges against 18 public officials, including resigned congressman Zaldy Co.

"It is a good report. It is already backed by evidence. Our preliminary investigation is already ongoing. So we expect to be filing cases in the Sandiganbayan also, besides what's to be filed in the RTC (regional trial court)," Remulla said.

Remulla said he has deputized the prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute the five flood control cases in Bulacan involving public officials under Salary Grade 26 or below.

"The five flood control cases that they (DOJ prosecutors) investigated, I reverted them back to DOJ so that it will not undergo vetting again in the Office of the Ombudsman. I told them to direct (the cases) to the RTC," Remulla said.