The Department of Justice (DOJ) Prosecutor General Richhard Fadullon said on Saturday that the department is set to issue subpoenas and begin preliminary investigations against former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Senator Jinggoy Estrada over plunder complaints linked to alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

“This coming week, we will be issuing the subpoenas already in connection with those cases,” Fadullon said during a forum.

“Meaning to say, the preliminary investigation for their complaints will begin,” he added.

On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed cases for malversation through falsification of documents and graft before the Sandiganbayan against Revilla, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district engineer Brice Hernandez, and five others. The charges stemmed from the alleged misuse of P92.8 million in a flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the plunder case being prepared against Revilla and Estrada is not limited to Bulacan, as the amount involved covers projects in other parts of the country.

“Yung sa plunder case, dahil may amount involved diyan that encompasses not just projects in Bulacan but nationwide. Hindi localized sa Bulacan,” Martinez said.

Fadullon cited the plunder complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against Revilla and Estrada, noting that the agency conducted fact-finding activities with DOJ prosecutors before recommending the case to the Office of the Ombudsman, which will determine whether the evidence is sufficient to proceed.

Revilla has earlier denied any involvement in alleged anomalies in flood control projects in Bulacan. Meanwhile, Estrada has “categorically and vehemently” denied claims made by Hernandez regarding alleged kickbacks tied to flood control projects.

Martinez also said Hernandez has yet to qualify as a state witness but may still submit additional evidence to support his application under the Witness Protection Program.

“The most we can say is they did not qualify as of now. The operative term is ‘as of now,’ not yet, because based on the affidavits they submitted and the information disclosed to the WPP panel, it is not yet enough to qualify,” Martinez said.