DOJ reschedules Bulacan flood control inquiry

MANILA, Philippines — Today’s preliminary investigation on the first five cases of ghost flood control projects in Bulacan has been rescheduled to Nov. 14 due to the suspension of government work as a result of Super Typhoon Uwan, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

“We are looking at Friday provided subpoenas are all served,” Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said yesterday.

The probe will look into charges of malversation through falsification of public documents under Article 217 in relation to Article 171 Paragraph 4 of the Revised Penal Code; perjury under Article 183 of the RPC; and graft under Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Named respondents were former and current officials and personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), namely, former district engineer Henry Alcantara, former assistant district engineers Brice Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, project engineer Arjay Domasig, project engineer Nino Lawrence Morales, finance section chief Juanito Mendoza, administrative section chief Floralyn Simbulan and cashier Christina Mae Pineda.

Sally Santos, representative of Syms Construction, was also included as respondent.

Aside from the five cases, the DOJ is also set to start a fact-finding probe on higher officials, including senators and congressmen who supposedly received kickbacks from the flood control projects.

DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres earlier said a next batch of six cases is lined for case build-up and eventual filing for preliminary investigation.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had earlier deputized the DOJ to conduct case build-up as well as preliminary investigation on several flood control projects to complement the limited manpower of the ombudsman.