ICI recommends plunder, corruption charges vs Bong Revilla, others; case buildup urged for Chiz Escudero
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Dec. 3 recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of charges against former senator Bong Revilla Jr. and other officials reportedly involved in the flood control scandal.
In a press briefing, ICI chairperson retired Justice Andres Reyes announced the commission's recommended charges of direct or indirect bribery, corruption, plunder, and administrative sanctions, among others, against the following:
- Former Senator Bong Revilla, Jr.
- Manny Bulusan
- Carleen Yap-Villa
- Gerard Opulencia
- Ruel Umali
- Gene Ryan Altea
- JY Dela Rosa
- Mrs. Patron
- Carlo Aguilar
- Maynard Ngu
Further, Reyes read out another list of names whose "gravity of allegations" motivated the commission to recommend to the Ombudsman further investigative review for case buildup:
- Former Senate president Chiz Escudero
- Makati Mayor Nancy Binay
- Senator and former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Mark Villar
- Former senator Grace Poe
Reyes added that the commission is also submitting new evidence that may lead to more charges against:
- Former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan
- Former DPWH usec. Catalina Cabral
- Former DPWH usec. Roberto Bernardo
- Former congressman Zaldy Co
- Commission on Audit commissioner Henry Lipana
- Former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara
- Former DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez
- Former DPWH engineer JP Mendoza
Last Sept. 25, Revilla was named by former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo as among those who allegedly received kickbacks from flood control projects.
Two months later, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced that an arrest warrant had been issued against Zaldy Co and 17 others in connection with the flood control mess.
In a video published on Friday, Nov. 21, Marcos shared the development in the case, noting that the move was based on evidence laid out by the ICI and the DPWH.
"Hindi po ito haka-haka. Hindi po ito kwento. Ito po ay tunay na ebidensya," he stressed.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation cases against Co as well as several officials of the DPWH and Sunwest Inc. on Nov. 18 in connection with anomalies in a P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. The charges involved malversation of public funds through the falsification of public documents, violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and a co-violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019.
Hearings at the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the ICI have revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption.