DoJ issues subpoenas in ‘‘ghost’’ cases

Subpoenas to a preliminary investigation have been issued by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to respondents in five ghost flood control projects in Bulacan, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said Monday.

Fadullon said the summons were issued last week with the first hearing set for 10 November.

“Some of the subpoenas have been personally served for the initial five cases where the DoJ has been deputized by the Office of the Ombudsman,” said DoJ officer-in-charge Fredderick Vida on the sidelines of the department’s three-day justice summit.

Vida said the process will now move forward with both the charges and respondents already identified.

Initially, the DoJ referred its recommendation to file graft, malversation, perjury and falsification charges against Department of Public Works and Highways’ Bulacan First District Engineering officials and several contractors to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, returned the information against the respondents and deputized the DoJ to handle the prosecution, including the preliminary investigation and the filing of charges.

DoJ spokesperson Polo Martinez had said the DoJ was eyeing to complete its preliminary investigation within a month.