The Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder and graft charges on Thursday, May 28, against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan.
The charges stem from the recommendation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Prosecution Service on May 18 to indict Estrada for plunder, graft, and bribery, along with other DPWH officials. The cases are related to alleged anomalies in the government's flood control projects.
Former DPWH Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez earlier implicated Estrada in the so-called flood control scandal. He accused the senator of receiving an alleged 30% kickback from PHP 355 million worth of flood control projects.
This is the third plunder case against Estrada. He was previously charged in connection with the jueteng scandal in 2001, and again in 2014 due to the PDAF scam, for which he was acquitted. The new case is expected to reopen a thorough investigation into the use of government funds for infrastructure projects.
According to the Ombudsman, the accused have been ordered to submit their counter-affidavits within 15 days from receipt of the order. The public remains focused on the outcome of the investigation, especially since Estrada is currently a senator and Bonoan is a former cabinet member who played a major role in DPWH projects.
Bombo Radyo is still trying to get reactions from Estrada and Bonoan regarding these developments.
