THE DEPARTMENT OF Justice (DoJ) had just released a star-studded cast of elected, appointed and career service officials allegedly connected with the biggest fund scandal ever to rock the government in the last forty years.
The DoJ said that on the basis of the strength of sworn affidavits it and the National Bureau of Investigation executed, the following are for case build-up by the National Prosecution Service:
- Rep. Elizaldy (Zaldy) S. Co
- Senator Francis Chiz Escudero
- Sen. Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva
- Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Pimentel Ejercito Jr.
- Alias Beng Ramos
- Alias Mina
- Undersecretary Mary Mitzi “Mitch” Lim Cajayon-Uy
- Maynard S. Ngu
- Former Sen. Ramon Bautista “Bong” Revilla Jr.
- Carmen Y. Villa
- Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo
- Engr. Henry C. Alcantara
- John Carlo Rivera
- Linda “Victoria” Macanas
- Juanito Mendoza, CPA
- Sally Nicolas Santos
- Jesse Mahusay
- Alias “Andrei Balatbat”
- Engr. Brice Ericson D. Hernandez
- Engr. Jaypee O. Mendoza
- Engr. Arjay D. Domasig
Conspicuously missing on the list are former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, resigned DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
SUFFICIENT LINKS
In a press statement, the DoJ said the memorandum stems directly from the sworn testimonies of Engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza and former Usec Roberto Bernardo.
“Their statements provided the basis for clarifying these individuals as having sufficient preliminary links to the acts under investigation,” the DoJ said.
The DoJ made clear that their inclusion in the NBIs recommendation “is not a matter of speculation or rumor, but a result of sworn testimony under oath. “
“If names have circulated outside of these affidavits, those are not recognized by the DoJ or the NBI until such time that they are sworn to under proper proceedings,” the DoJ said.
STATE PROTECTION
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla recently hinted at placing former DPWH officials Engineers Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza and Cezarah Rowena Discaya and her husband Pacific Discaya under protected witness status.
He said the DoJ has written to the Senate President to formalize their request for protection and will hold further discussions with the chamber.
“These witnesses are showing good faith by coming forward with documents and notes they have kept through the years. We consider them protected witnesses,” Remulla said in reference to the ledgers and records that could help in the agency’s case building.
A protected witness is different from a state witness. Under existing legal parameters, state witnesses are free from criminal liability.
NEED TO EVALUATE
The DoJ chief disclosed that the Discayas were granted the same protection, but the government would still have to evaluate the scope of assistance, including security for their families.
“We will help them first with the security problems.”
Remulla noted the information gathered so far has gone beyond what has been revealed in Senate hearings, with more names and details expected to surface. DoJ’s role is to prosecute cases, but securing witnesses and evidence is key to moving investigations forward.
Remulla noted that Hernandez has already been returning assets, including a Lamborghini Urus, to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as part of restitution efforts.
“These are symbols of wealth that should not have been amassed by a public servant. If these came from government funds, they must not be repeated,” he said.
As for the recovered loot, the Justice Secretary hinted that it would be auctioned promptly, with the proceeds remitted to the Treasury.
RETURN THE LOOT
Malacañang on Wednesday said President Marcos, Jr. wants stolen flood control funds to be returned to state coffers.
“Return the people’s money. It is not enough to simply file cases against those involved in the anomalous flood control projects; nor is it enough to imprison them because the President wants people’s money to be returned,” said Palace spokesperson Usec. Claire Castro.
This also comes as the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) had frozen the assets of contractors and agency officials implicated in the scandal.
Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon asked AMLC on Wednesday to freeze about P474.48 million worth of vehicles registered under DPWH officials, staff, and private contractors.
The department will likewise issue show-cause orders to 10 regional directors and engineers over allegations of lavish lifestyles, document tampering, and links to defective projects.
WORK RESUMPTION
The President also ordered the immediate repair of substandard and unfinished government projects to prevent taxpayers’ money from going to waste following revelations that some of the DPWH projects were deliberately built below standards to allow kickbacks.
“What needs fixing should be repaired immediately so it can be utilized, otherwise the money spent will go to waste.”