Manila: Non-bailable plunder and graft charges have been filed against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan over the flood control scandal, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano announced. The charges, filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, involve payouts amounting to PHP573 million.
According to Philippines News Agency, the cases also name three engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region as respondents. Clavano revealed that public funds were deliberately funneled into specific infrastructure projects in exchange for predetermined commissions or kickbacks. The charges emerged after an investigation by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Clavano stated that the Ombudsman recommended no bail for the respondents and will seek a hold departure order against them. Initially, former DPWH Undersecretaries Cathy Cabral and Roberto Bernardo, among others, were named in the complaint. However, Cabral was dropped after her death, and Bernardo, along with two others, was excluded following their application to become state witnesses.
In response, Estrada expressed concerns over the rapid filing of charges, arguing it violated due process. He plans to pursue all legal avenues, criticizing the lack of a thorough investigation as previously promised by the Ombudsman. Estrada also mentioned a Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office letter that he claims refutes the allegations but was ignored. He noted the absence of an opportunity to review the DOJ and Ombudsman resolutions before the cases were filed.
Ferdinand Martin Romualdez's camp emphasized evidence-based accountability in the flood control controversy. Romualdez's spokesperson, Atty. Elaine Atienza, refuted claims that Romualdez controlled the budget process as former Speaker of the House. Atienza clarified that the budget process involves multiple steps and actors, including the Executive, House, and Senate, and cannot be dictated by a single individual.
Atienza highlighted the procedural steps involved in the national budget process, explaining it involves preparation, authorization, execution, and accountability. She argued that allegations of Romualdez having 'functional control' over the budget or being the 'mastermind' are unsupported. She urged for fairness and evidence-based conclusions, warning against narratives that lack factual basis.
