The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has recommended the filing of plunder, graft, and other criminal charges against Senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, along with former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, and several others in connection with alleged anomalous flood control projects.
In a draft partial committee report, the Senate anti-graft panel said the investigation uncovered a coordinated scheme involving bribery and kickbacks linked to questionable flood mitigation projects.
“Clearly established by the evidence on record is an organized and well-coordinated payment and receipt of bribes system by various participants to the subject anomalous flood control transactions… which demonstrates unity of purpose and conspiracy in the commission of the crime of direct bribery,” the committee’s partial report read.
Also named in the report were former Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy, former Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and businessman Maynard Ngu, who was alleged to have collected kickbacks for Escudero.
The committee further linked several individuals to the alleged scheme, including Carleen Villa, an aide of former Senator and now Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay; J.Y. dela Rosa, a staff member of former Senator Grace Poe; Loren Cruz, identified as the alleged bagman of former Public Works district engineer Henry Alcantara; former aides of Zaldy Co, John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay; as well as individuals known only as “Peng” and “Mrs. Patron.”
Several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were also identified as possible subjects of criminal complaints.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, has been probing alleged flood control anomalies involving “ghost” projects, substandard structures, and the concentration of contracts among a small circle of favored contractors.