The Office of the Ombudsman is preparing to file plunder and malversation charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with his alleged involvement in flood control anomalies. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced during a press conference on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that the complaints are being finalized and are expected to be submitted to the Sandiganbayan by Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Remulla explained the delay, stating, "We took a bit longer because when we read the Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution, we found corrections needed. We didn't want to file an imperfect case, so we polished it for over a week to ensure the charges presented to the Sandiganbayan are clear." He added, "We want the case to be polished, and when we file it, we will have all the evidence ready, with nothing left to chance."
The allegations stem from a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing in September 2025 on flood control anomalies. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant engineer Brice Hernandez claimed that Estrada received 30 percent of the project cost from a government flood control project in Bulacan in 2025. Hernandez testified that Estrada allocated P355 million in flood-mitigating project funds to the city of Malolos and the towns of Hagonoy and Calumpit in Bulacan, with 30 percent of the total project cost returned to Estrada as commission.
Dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara also implicated Estrada in the kickback scheme. Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson confirmed that P355 million worth of insertions for five flood-control projects in Bulacan were included in the 2025 national budget. Lacson noted that these items were not present in the 2025 National Expenditures Program (NEP) or the House General Appropriations Bill (GAB), suggesting they were likely inserted in the Senate version of the Bicameral Conference Committee.
Estrada has vehemently denied the accusations, claiming that certain individuals are trying to destroy him because he is the most vulnerable among the senators. He was previously charged in connection with the multi-million peso pork barrel scam but was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan. In October 2025, Estrada filed perjury complaints against Hernandez.
