Bribery, malversation: Villanueva, Estrada, Co to face charges in flood control scandal
DOJ confirms probe, freezing of accounts
MANILA, Philippines (First update, 4:19 p.m.) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to file indirect bribery and malversation charges against Sens. Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada and Rep. Zaldy Co (Ako Bicol party-list), Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said Tuesday, September 23.
At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Remulla said he met with the NBI and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to review the sworn affidavit of dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara.
“The recommendation of the NBI for prosecution and probably this is what AMLC is as follows, for Mr. Alcantara, Sen. Joel Villanueva, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Congressman Elizaldy Co, former Undersecretary Roberto Bernando, and former congresswoman Mitch Cajayon,” Remulla said.
The cases to be filed against each include indirect bribery and malversation of public funds.
A digital file has also been sent to the AMLC, which has since issued freeze orders on the accounts of the officials being investigated.
Engineers' testimonies. Alcantara earlier named the lawmakers and other officials in kickback schemes in Bulacan, prompting Remulla to take him to the Department of Justice.
His affidavit corroborated earlier testimony from dismissed DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.
In his affidavit, Alcantara tagged Co in P35 billion worth of budget insertions since 2022, alleging he received a 20% cut. Hernandez and Mendoza had earlier linked Estrada and Villanueva to similar schemes, saying Estrada inserted P355 million for kickbacks and Villanueva P600 million.
Both senators have denied the allegations, but Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson confirmed that the projects cited were in the respective budgets.
Public anger grows. The announcement from the DOJ came days after the largest anti-corruption rallies under the Marcos administration. Thousands marched in the streets to decry billions of pesos suspected to have been lost to corruption, demanding the jailing of both contractors and politicians.
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