The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of plunder and other criminal charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and several former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials over alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
The DOJ resolution, already transmitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, recommended charges for plunder, graft, direct bribery, receipt of gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officials in connection with the alleged misuse of billions of pesos in public funds.
Aside from Estrada, the recommended charges named former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Bong Dinglasan, Engr. Denryl Caesar Cortuna, Assistant Engineer Manny Bulosan, and Engr. Arturo Gonzales Jr.
Former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral was dropped from the case.
Meanwhile, DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia were excluded from the final criminal information to be filed in court in exchange for their testimonies.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the Office of the Ombudsman will conduct its own independent review and evaluation of the merits of the case before taking further action.