The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has lodged 18 independent complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning suspected anomalies in government-funded flood control initiatives across various provinces.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that the legal complaints are progressing through multiple stages of judicial review. According to Matibag, three cases have already reached the Sandiganbayan, while another three have been initiated at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
He further disclosed that eight cases were forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman, while the remaining four are undergoing preliminary investigation at the DOJ.
The ongoing legal actions stem from alleged irregularities in infrastructure projects implemented in Bulacan, Cebu, Oriental Mindoro, and several other regions.
High-profile individuals named in the complaints include Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
The NBI also implicated former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials Brice Hernandez, JP Mendoza, and RJ Domasig in the filings.
Additionally, the bureau recommended the filing of charges against former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, and former DPWH-NCR Regional Director Gerald Apulencia.
While Sally Santos of SYMS Construction was similarly named in the probe, authorities noted that select individuals connected to the investigation have already been admitted into the Witness Protection Program.
Matibag reaffirmed the bureau’s dedication to upholding accountability across all levels of government, stressing that liability regarding the alleged misappropriation of public infrastructure funds will be dictated solely by evidence rather than political status.