The Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of plunder, direct bribery and graft charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and other public works official as involved in the controversial flood control mess.

In a press conference on Monday, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed that the Office of the Ombudsman has officially received a copy of the resolution from the DOJ, National Prosecution Service regarding the recommendation.

"The resolution comes from a comprehensive preliminary investigation initiated by a complaint lodged by the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Public Works and Bid Rigging Task Force," he said.

Clavano noted that "the allegations claim that multiple high-ranking public officials and private individuals conspired to maneuver allocations, rig public bidding processes, and siphon government funds stemming from a major national infrastructure budget systems, specifically involving the National Expenditure Program, the Bicameral Conference Committee, the House General Appropriations Bill, and the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025."

Primary respondents named in the resolution of the DOJ also include, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, EX-NCR Director Gerard Opulencia and former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engr. Henry Alcantara and others.

"Based on these findings, the DOJ panel recommends the following: number one, the immediate filing of formal criminal sets of information before the proper courts against the correspondence found to have a prima facie case against them," said Clavano.

"The charges recommended are plunder under Republic Act number 78 as a method, violations of section 3d and section 3e of Republic Act number 3090 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers under Article 210 of the revised Penal Code, corruption of public officials under Article 212 of the revised penal code against complicit private individuals and entities," he added.

Clavano said the recommendation includes formal dropping of charges against Cabral, "with the recommendation to dismiss the case against her, specifically in view of her verified death of December 19, 2025."

Also recommended is the "formal exclusion of state witnesses Roberto Bernardo, Gerard Opulencia, and Henry Alcantara from the final criminal information to be filed in court, maintaining their discharge for prosecution in exchange for their continuous vital testimonies, a recommendation for the NBI DOJ task force to pursue further investigation to fully unmask the identity of the remaining John and Jane Doe who acted as intermediaries or beneficiaries in the project allocations."

Following the receipt of the resolution, Clavano said "the next step will be to allow the office of the Ombudsman to conduct its own independent review and resolution on the merits of the case."

"The possible outcomes of the offices of the office's independent evaluation include affirming the findings of the Department of Justice, amending the resolution, or reversing the findings altogether," he added. Robina Asido/PHS