By Benjamin Pulta
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 on Thursday said.
In a press briefing, Clavano said the plunder and graft cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman involve “illicit” payouts amounting to PHP573 million.
Likewise named respondents in the case are three engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-National Capital Region.
“Our evaluation shows that substantial public funds were deliberately funnelled into designated infrastructure projects in exchange for predetermined commission fees or kickbacks,” Clavano said.
He added that the charges came following extensive investigation by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Clavano said the Ombudsman recommended no bail for the respondents and will also seek a hold departure order against them.
He said those originally named in the complaint include former DPWH Undersecretary Cathy Cabral, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former NCR Regional Director Gerard Opulencia and former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara.
Pursuant to court rules, Cabral was dropped from the case after her death.
Bernardo, Opulencia and Alcantara were formally excluded from the charges following their application to become state witnesses. (PNA)
