MANILA, Philippines– The Office of the Prosecutor General on Thursday announced in Quezon City that it will file two or three plunder cases next week against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and detained former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in connection with the alleged flood control project scandal and will issue subpoenas to both lawmakers as part of the proceedings.
Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said during the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City that his office will also file additional flood control-related cases next week against officials assigned to the 1st Bulacan District Engineering Office.
Fadullon stated that investigators continue to collect documentary and testimonial evidence to support the plunder complaints against Estrada, Revilla, and other individuals linked to the questioned flood control contracts.
He said the Office of the Prosecutor General identified more potential respondents in the flood control project cases and will reveal their names once investigators finalize and verify the evidence against them.
Fadullon said the plunder complaints involve alleged irregularities and possible misuse of public funds in government-funded flood control projects in Bulacan and other locations, which investigators have examined in coordination with other agencies.
He confirmed that his office prepared the subpoenas for Estrada and Revilla so they can formally answer the allegations in the plunder complaints during the preliminary investigation.
He said the prosecutors will evaluate the evidence submitted by complainants, respondents, and government agencies to determine whether they will file the plunder charges in court.
Fadullon said the prosecution panel coordinates with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to obtain records, contracts, project documents, and other materials related to the flood control projects under investigation.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, who joined Fadullon at the forum, said the department will continue to provide documents and technical information requested by the prosecutors to help establish the facts in the flood control cases.
Dizon said DPWH officials from the 1st Bulacan District Engineering Office and other concerned units submitted project records and reports to support the ongoing investigation into the questioned flood control projects.
Fadullon said the Office of the Prosecutor General will release further information on the number of complaints, the specific projects involved, and the identities of additional respondents after the filing of the new cases next week.
He said the prosecutors will follow the rules on due process and give Estrada, Revilla, and all other respondents the opportunity to submit counter-affidavits and evidence during the preliminary investigation stage.
Fadullon said his office coordinates with other investigative bodies to avoid overlapping actions and to ensure a comprehensive presentation of evidence in the plunder and related criminal cases involving the flood control projects.