The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Monday it has submitted additional names of high-profile individuals to the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan and Davao Occidental.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon told reporters that the Ombudsman is expected to make an announcement within the week. He said the agency filed new manifestations two weeks, including two additional submissions.
‘‘I do not want to pre-empt our discussions with the Ombudsman, as it will be their office that will announce it,’’ Dizon said, adding that the new submissions involve high-profile individuals linked to cases in Bulacan and Davao Occidental.
He also disclosed that another manifestation will be filed this week in connection with a separate case in Cebu.
In a related development, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 ordered the Bureau of Immigration to hold the departure of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and three other former DPWH officials.
Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said the court issued a precautionary hold departure order on February 10 after finding probable cause to believe the respondents might leave the country to evade arrest.
Martinez clarified that this does not mean the pending plunder case before the Department of Justice has been resolved. ‘‘By the term precautionary, this means that before the case was formally filed in court, the judge issued the order anticipating that the respondents may evade arrest,’’ he said, stressing that no formal charges have yet been filed in court.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed it received a DPWH manifestation linking contractor Curlee Discaya to the alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said affidavits indicate that Discaya appears to have beneficial ownership or exercises control over the companies involved.
‘‘When you say beneficial ownership, that includes those who sign on behalf of corporations even if they are not on paper, those who give instructions and exercise dominion over the company, Clavano said.
He noted that investigators must carefully study narratives to identify individuals behind the corporations and assured that due process will be observed.
At the Sandiganbayan, former senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. did not enter a plea during his arraignment for graft in connection with the alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, prompting the ourt to enter a plea of not guilty on his behalf. His co-accused, former DPWH finance official Juanito Mendoza, also pleaded not guilty.
Revilla’s camp argued he was denied due process because he was not given the opportunity to respond to the Ombudsman’s updated resolution naming him as a respondent. They also maintained that he was not an accountable officer and that the allegations did not constitute an offense.
The Sandiganbayan allowed Revilla and Mendoza to seek reconsideration of the Ombudsman’s resolution ordering the filing of malversation charges, directing the Ombudsman to resolve the motion within 60 days.
Opposition lawmaker Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, meanwhile, questioned what he described as selective prosecution in the flood control controversy.
Speaking at the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, Erice criticized the alleged persecution of contractors and small-time engineers while high-ranking officials of the Marcos administration have supposedly been spared. either complicity or a question of competence, Erice said, expressing disappointment over what he called the government’s silence on corruption issues involving ranking administration lawmakers. If they really want to know the truth, there would have been an impartial and thorough investigation, which is not happening, he added.
Erice also said the fate of his proposed Anti-Dynasty Bill depends on the President’s sincerity in pushing for its passage, arguing that political will is crucial in addressing entrenched political interests.
