DOJ identifies individuals for 'case build up' in DPWH flood control projects
The Department of Justice released the list of individuals who will undergo "case build-up" in connection with the alleged corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways' flood control projects.
Among those included in the list are Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, along with Senators Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada, and former Senator Bong Revilla.
Also part of the list are Undersecretary Mitch Cajayon-Uy, Maynard Ngu, Carleen Villa, former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, John Carlo Rivera, Linda Victoria Macanas, Juanito Mendoza, Sally Santos, Jesse Mahusay, a certain "Mina," "Beng Ramos," "Andrei Balatbat," and DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, and Henry Alcantara.
The recommendation stems directly from the sworn testimonies of Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, and Bernardo.
"Their statements provided the basis for identifying these individuals as having sufficient preliminary links to the acts under investigation," the statement read.
"Let it be clear: inclusion in the NBI's recommendation is not a matter of speculation or rumor. It is the result of sworn testimony under oath. If names have circulated outside of these affidavits, those are not recognized by the DOJ or the NBI until such time that they are sworn to under proper proceedings," it continued.
Estrada and Villanueva were first dragged into the flood control scandal by Hernandez, saying on Sept. 9, “Si Sen. Jinggoy po ay nagbaba ng P355 million ngayong 2025 sa mga ilang projects sa Bulacan. Ang sabi po ng boss ko dito ay 30% ang commitment dito."
Then on Sept. 23, Alcantara claimed Bernardo ordered the release of hundreds of millions of pesos in funds for projects, of which 25% go to the likes of senators Estrada and Villanueva.
Two days later, Bernardo accused Escudero, former senators Nancy Binay and Revilla, Co, and the Department of Education Usec. Trygve Olaivar of being involved in the scheme. He also pinned the blame on Alcantara, who previously said that he's the "boss" behind the kickbacks.