The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday confirmed receipt of a Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution recommending the filing of plunder and graft charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, among several personalities involved in allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects.
According to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, the Justice Department asked their office to file the charges over the alleged bid rigging of government projects to get kickbacks.
Other implicated personalities include Bong Dinglasan, Engr. Denryl Caesar Cortuna, Assistant Engr. Manny Bulosan, and Engr. Arturo Gonzales Jr.
“The preliminary investigation accumulated exhaustive evidence, including legislative records, Position Description Forms, and sworn transcripts from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings held on November 14, 2025, which detailed illicit maneuvers and alleged 30-percent cuts surrounding regional flood control projects,” Clavano said.
“Following months of evaluation, the submission of counter-affidavits, and extensive evidence-gathering, the DOJ panel concluded that there is an interconnected network of public officers who abused their official designations to manipulate project specifications, clear budgets, and rig public bidding workflows,” he added.
Aside from plunder and graft, the DOJ wants Estrada and the other public officials to face charges of direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers.
It also recommended the filing of corruption of public officials charges under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code against complicit private individuals and entities.
The Justice Department’s recommendation will still be evaluated by the Office of the Ombudsman, which has the final say on the prosecution of corrupt public officials.
Former DPWH undersecretary Catalina Cabral was dropped from the case. Meanwhile, Public Works officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia were also excluded from the final criminal information to be filed in court in exchange for testimonies.
Clavano has since said the Office of the Ombudsman will conduct its own independent review and resolution on the merits of the case.
