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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ eyes filing cases on flood control mess 'in the coming weeks'

DOJ eyes filing cases on flood control mess 'in the coming weeks'

Published Oct 13, 2025 01:06 pm
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to file “in the coming weeks" cases in the anomalous government flood control projects.
“In the coming weeks, we will be filing, in coordination with the Ombudsman and the ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure), the appropriate cases,” declared DOJ Officer-In-Charge Secretary Fredderick A. Vida.
Once there is enough evidence, Vida stressed that the DOJ will not wait any longer for the testimonies of persons involved in the mess who are seeking to become state witnesses.
“People are impatient. We will file the appropriate cases with or without the testimonies (of those who seek to be state witnesses). We will build the cases based on the evidence we have,” he pointed.
He assured that the DOJ will file strong cases against those involved.
Vida pointed this out in response to claims that contractor spouses Cezarah “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, both of whom have been tagged in the anomalies, will submit before the DOJ a “tell-all” sworn statement on what they know about the mess.
So far, Vida said the couple has yet to submit such sworn statements.
The DOJ had provisionally placed under its Witness Protection Program (WPP) the Discayas; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District’s former district engineer Henry Alcatara; and DWPH Bulacan First District’s former assistant district engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon pointed out “hindi naman po tayo umaasa lang sa mga salaysay na isusumite sa atin (we don’t rely on the statements they submitted).”
Fadullon reminded that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are also gathering evidence that are independent of the statements.
Vida took over the helm of the DOJ as officer-in-charge after former justice secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla was appointed Ombudsman.
With Remulla as Ombudsman, Vida assured: “We will definitely be coordinating more in the coming days.”
“Ang bilin bilin nya ‘yung mga inaasahan ng mga kababayan natin ay patuloy pa rin tutukan. Umasa ang ating mga kababayan lalo na ‘yung umaasa na katarungan (Remulla instructed the DOJ to continue to focus on the issues that people are expecting. Many citizens are waiting for justice to be achieved),” he stated.
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