The Philippine Daily Star reported on its front page that after a long wait, the Philippine judicial department has started to examine the corruption case of the major flood control project in the Philippines.
Commissioner Crispin Remulla said that seven to eight criminal cases related to the abnormal flood control project will be submitted to the Sandiganbayan (anti-corruption court) next month.
He said that the cases to be submitted may include complex charges such as misappropriation of public funds, graft, or misappropriation of public funds through falsified public documents.
Remulla said during an interview with the Star's "Truth Online" on Wednesday: "By the end of November, we already have seven or eight cases that can be submitted." He said that due to the huge amount involved, these embezzlement cases will not be eligible for bail and may result in life imprisonment.
Remulla praised the Infrastructure Compliance Committee (ICI) for submitting its investigation report and some evidence to the Ombudsman. He said this move will speed up the Ombudsman's preliminary investigation. The ICI's report covered the flood control project valued at 289.5 million pesos implemented by the contractor Sunwest in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 4-B in 2024.
In the report, the ICI urged the Ombudsman to file appropriate charges against 18 public officials, including the resigned congressman Zaldy Co.
Remulla said, "This is a good report. It is supported by evidence. Our preliminary investigation is already underway. So we expect that in addition to the cases filed in the Regional Trial Court (RTC), we will also file cases in the Sandiganbayan."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846818571212864/
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