DOJ Recommends Charges Against 21 Over Flood Control Scam; 3 Senators, 1 Congressman Included

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of charges against 21 individuals, including three sitting senators and a congressman, in connection with alleged anomalies in multibillion-peso flood control projects.

In a statement Friday, the DOJ confirmed that the National Prosecution Service will begin a case build-up after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) endorsed the filing of cases against the group.

Among those named are former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, former chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, and former Caloocan City Rep. Mary Mitzi “Mitch” Lim Cajayon-Uy.

Also facing possible charges are former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and the so-called “BGC Boys”: Engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, and Arjay Domasig.

Others implicated include alias “Beng Ramos,” alias “Mina,” Maynard Ngu, Carleen Villa, John Carlo Rivera, Linda “Victoria” Macanas, Juanito Mendoza, Sally Nicolas Santos, Jesse Mahusay, and alias “Andrei Balatbat.”

The DOJ said the recommendation was based on sworn affidavits from Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, and Bernardo.

“Their statements provided the basis for identifying these individuals as having sufficient preliminary links to the acts under investigation,” the DOJ explained, adding that those named “will be required to answer, under the rule of law, the serious allegations now standing against them.”

Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, DOJ spokesperson, clarified that Makati Mayor and former senator Nancy Binay was not included in the list because Carleen Villa, not Binay, was named as the recipient of kickbacks.

“The line to Sen. Binay is still being built,” Clavano said.

Meanwhile, Orly Guteza—the witness of Rep. Rodante Marcoleta who testified in the Senate earlier this week—did not appear before the DOJ. Guteza had alleged that ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap personally delivered bags of cash to the residence of former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Rep. Co.

Romualdez has denied the claim, calling it a fabrication meant to drag him into the controversy.