Jinggoy, Revilla subpoenas over flood control mess out next week—DOJ

Next week, subpoenas against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla will be issued for their separate plunder complaints related to the flood control corruption scandal, the Department of Justice said.

This was confirmed by DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, who said the Justice Department “this coming week, we will be issuing the subpoenas already in connection with those cases, meaning the preliminary investigation against them will begin.”

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed separate plunder complaints with the DOJ against Revilla and Estrada.

He added that the NBI conducted fact-finding in cooperation with prosecutors, after which there was a recommendation or referral to the Office of the Ombudsman. The office then evaluates whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed.

Fadullon said, “We just received the records back, as they were returned by the Office of the Ombudsman.”

Earlier, Revilla denied any involvement in “ghost” or non-existent flood control projects in Bulacan following his inclusion as a respondent in two DOJ complaints.

Estrada, meanwhile, has “categorically and vehemently” denied claims by former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez of allegedly pocketing kickbacks in flood control projects.

Martinez clarified that plunder cases involving Revilla and Estrada are “not localized in Bulacan.”

“On the plunder case, the amounts involved encompass not just projects in Bulacan but nationwide. Hindi localized sa Bulacan,” he said.

Former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co, another key figure in the flood control mess, is facing a separate plunder complaint before the DOJ. The preliminary investigation for the complaint against Co was held on 5 January.

On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation charges against Revilla, former DPWH Bulacan Assistant District Engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, and four others over the alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.