THE Office of the Ombudsman on Monday confirmed receiving a recommendation from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and other people be charged with plunder, graft, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officials.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a press conference that the resolution comes from a comprehensive preliminary investigation initiated by a complaint lodged by the National Bureau of Investigation-Department of Justice Public Works and Bid-Rigging Task Force.
The Office of the Ombudsman said that after “months of evaluation, the submission of counter-affidavits, and extensive evidence-gathering, the DOJ panel concluded that there” was “an interconnected network of” people who had “abused their official designations to manipulate project specifications, clear budgets, and rig public bidding workflows.” Along with Estrada, the primary respondents named in the resolution included former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan, Bong Dinglasan, Denryl Caesar Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, Arturo Gonzales Jr., and several John/Jane Does.
The Office of the Ombudsman said the DOJ panel recommended that the “core respondents found to have a prima facie case against them” be charged in court for plunder, graft, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officials.
“Moving forward, the next step will be to allow the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct its own independent review and resolution on the merits of the case. The possible outcomes of the office’s independent evaluation include affirming the findings of the Department of Justice, amending the resolution or reversing the findings altogether. Rest assured, we will keep the public updated on the developments of this case,” Clavano said.
The DOJ panel recommended the exclusion of Gerard Opulencia, Henry Alcantara, and former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo from the case to be filed in court as they are all state witnesses.
