Arrest warrants against Senators Francis Escudero, Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former senators Bong Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay, may be out by Dec. 15, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
In an interview with Facts First, Remulla said resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, former special envoy to China Maynard Ngu, and more than 20 members of the House of Representatives will be charged in the initial batch of cases.
He said his office is also investigating Sen. Mark Villar as well as former senators Sonny Angara, now Education secretary, and Grace Poe.
Incorporators of various private contractors, including spouses Curlee and Sara Discaya, will also be charged.
Remulla explained that Revilla, Binay and Estrada were mentioned in the signed affidavit of former Public Works Usec. Roberto Bernardo, while Villanueva was in the affidavit of former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara.
Bernardo has already applied to become state witness amid the probe on anomalous flood control projects, Independent Commission for Infrastructure executive director Brian Hosaka said.
Bernardo also mentioned in his affidavit Escudero, Co, Poe, Angara, Villar, and Ngu.
Remulla said the congressmen included in the first batch will likely face conflict of interest raps.
“This (conflict of interest) is also a serious case because if we find malversation, it is also non-bailable,” the Ombudsman said.
Earlier, the ICI said it intends to file cases against three more incumbent or former senators in connection with the flood control projects mess.
Without divulging names, ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said this would bring to five the number of sitting and former senators to be charged in the corruption mess.
The ICI previously recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of charges against Villanueva, Estrada, Co, Bernardo, Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana, and former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Ombudsman: Warrants out vs. ‘big fish’ by Dec. 15”
