By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, and several former officials have been recommended for prosecution in connection with the alleged flood control racket, Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday.
Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), after evaluating the affidavit of dismissed Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, found sufficient grounds to pursue charges.
“We had the NBI come over, the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council), and of course, the NPS (National Prosecution Service) is housed inside the DOJ compound. We met at Room 206 over the affidavit of Mr. Alcantara and he was there, present to answer questions. We determined that the NBI would be investigating it. On the outset, they recommended filing of charges already,” Remulla said.
Also included in the NBI’s recommendation are Alcantara himself, former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo, and former Caloocan City Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy.
Meanwhile, he said the DOJ has already submitted documents to the AMLC for the freezing of assets of those implicated.
“We gave a digital file to the AMLC, and they already started acting on this because it is already a filed complaint with the Department of Justice. Given that, I believe the freeze orders have been issued already by the AMLC over the bank accounts of these people,” he told senators.
The charges may include violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, indirect bribery under Article 2 of the Revised Penal Code, and malversation of public funds under Article 217.
Remulla added that the Department of Justice is also reviewing possible liability of Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana and his spouse, who was identified as a contractor in Alcantara’s testimony.
Earlier on Tuesday, Remulla escorted Alcantara out of the Senate Session Hall to the DOJ office to process his sworn affidavit and evaluate his request for inclusion in the Witness Protection Program (WPP) as part of the probe into anomalous flood control projects.
Alcantara, previously cited in contempt for denying involvement, named Villanueva, Estrada, Co, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Bernardo, and Cajayon-Uy in his statement.
Remulla said the affidavit would help the DOJ and the WPP “file a case as soon as possible” as demanded by the public.
Villanueva, Estrada deny allegations
Meanwhile, Villanueva and Estrada both denied involvement in the alleged flood control project anomalies, saying their names were “unfairly” dragged into the controversy.
Villanueva said Alcantara himself admitted that the senator never requested or was involved in such projects.
“Sinabi din po at inamin ni District Engr. Alcantara na may tulong daw siyang ipinaabot pero hindi po sa akin. At siya na rin po mismo ang nagsabi na wala po akong alam doon,” he said.
He said his requests were for multipurpose buildings in Bulacan, not flood control works.
Estrada, on the other hand, said the pork barrel cases filed against him had been resolved by the courts.
“Sa huli, napatunayan na walang sapat na batayan ang mga ipinukol sa akin na akusasyon (In the end, it was proven there was no sufficient basis for the accusations against me),” he said.
He warned colleagues not to undermine judicial rulings, calling such doubts “an insult to me personally but a dangerous affront to the judiciary.”
DOJ: Alcantara expressed willingness for restitution
Alcantara will cooperate with the probe on anomalous flood control projects, including returning government funds as restitution, Remulla told reporters.
“Yes. We haven’t gotten to the bottom of everything yet pero (but) the gesture for restitution is there, ” he said.
He declined to comment on what statements Alcantara actually made that would qualify him as state witness.
“I cannot comment on that yet. We have to vet everything before we make any comments or before we make any decisions,” he said.
He said the meeting was only the first of a series of meetings to determine whether Alcantara can be tapped as a state witness.
“We have to see him again within the week to finalize everything. Pero (But) he did good for today,” Remulla said.
Based on Alcantara’s statement, Remulla said the controversy started in 2022 when the former was district engineer of the City of Malolos.
He said they will also be meeting with other potential witnesses, including Alcantara’s deputy, Brice Hernandez.
“We will be very busy in the next few days. We will have to vet another one because we got a letter from a lawyer asking that we also consider Brice Hernandez as a state witness,” he said.
However, any ruling on who would qualify for the Witness Protection Program will not be immediate.
“Matagal pa yan. Marami pa tayong ico-consider. We have to vet it properly kasi kailangan himayin natin ‘yung buong problema bago tayo mamili talaga ng maayos na tetestigo sa lahat ng kinakailangan,” Remulla said.
