THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered investigators to hasten the investigation into alleged irregularities in flood-control projects linked to former senator and current Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay.
This comes following sworn statements submitted by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo regarding the case.
In a directive coursed through the Ombudsman’s General Investigation Bureau, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla instructed investigators to expedite the inquiry, citing the gravity of the allegations and findings from separate reviews by the Senate and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), both of which recommended the filing of charges over alleged anomalies in flood-control projects.
As part of the investigation, the bureau issued a subpoena ad testificandum ordering Carleen Yap‑Villa, a former staff member in Binay’s Senate office who later served in Makati City Hall, to appear before investigators.
A copy of the subpoena dated Feb. 24 directed Yap-Villa to appear before the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office I at the Ombudsman Annex Building along Agham Road in Quezon City at 10:30 a.m. on March 3 for questioning.
The order, signed by Acting General Investigation Bureau Director Ma. Jennifer Lacea, warned that failure to comply would carry penalties under the law.
Bernardo, in several sworn affidavits, alleged that Yap-Villa acted as the conduit between Binay and certain DPWH officials in connection with flood-control projects funded across multiple budget cycles.
He claimed Yap-Villa handled negotiations and coordination linked to the projects and was involved in the alleged solicitation of kickbacks.
Bernardo also said he maintained a detailed list of transactions allegedly facilitated by Yap-Villa, which he claimed showed acceptance of funds not only by Binay but also by her husband, Jose Benjamin Angeles.
According to Bernardo, cash deliveries were allegedly made in several tranches in Makati and Quezon City, including two deliveries totaling P340 million in Horseshoe Village in Quezon City and another P200 million released in separate installments.
He described the payments as “commitments” or kickbacks allegedly demanded in exchange for accommodating project allocations.
Investigators noted that the accusations were supported by corroborating witnesses who were expected to testify in the coming weeks.
The ICI earlier concluded that Binay could no longer plausibly claim lack of knowledge of the transactions, citing the alleged frequency of the dealings and the role of a trusted aide operating within her political and administrative circle.
Sources familiar with the probe said the investigation gained urgency following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intensify scrutiny of flood-control projects nationwide after reports of irregularities in infrastructure spending.
Officials said the Ombudsman’s move to accelerate proceedings indicated that the inquiry had entered a critical stage, with investigators now examining whether sufficient evidence existed to file formal charges against individuals implicated in the alleged scheme.
