DOJ finishes probe on 3 of 5 cases involving 'anomalous' flood control projects in Bulacan
A panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Nov. 28, finished the preliminary investigation in three of the five cases involving “anomalous” flood control projects in Bulacan.
Respondents in the two more cases were given until Dec. 5 to submit their counter-affidavits.
Thereafter, the DOJ will resolve if the cases will be dismissed or filed before the regional trial court (RTC).
The five cases were earlier endorsed by the DOJ to the Office of the Ombudsman which returned them to the DOJ for preliminary investigation since the cases involved public officials with Salary Grades 26 and below.
The Office of the Ombudsman handles preliminary investigations of public officials with Salary Grades 27 and above and the cases are filed before the Sandiganbayan.
DOJ Spokesperson Prosecution Attorney Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said three cases are among the five cases involving projects in Balagtas and Pandi towns.
The charges in the five cases include malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents under Article 217 in relation to Article 171 Paragraph 4 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); perjury under Article 183 of the RPC; and graft under Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Those named as respondents include former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry C. Alcantara; former DPWH assistant district engineers Brice Ericson D. Hernandez and Jaypee D. Mendoza; and Syms Construction representative Sally N. Santos.