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DOJ starts probe on 2 more cases in flood control mess

Philippines | National

DOJ starts probe on 2 more cases in flood control mess

By Jeffrey Damicog

The Department of Justice (DOJ) started on Monday, Dec. 15, the preliminary investigation on two more cases on the “anomalous” flood control projects.

DOJ Spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said the complaints were filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) involving the projects handled for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) by Wawao Builders and Topnotch Catalyst Builders, Inc. in Bulacan.

Martinez did not name all the respondents in the two cases except for former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara and former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez.

“The setting today was only for the reception of the complaint affidavit by the NBI and attached documents,” he said

The charges filed against the respondents were direct bribery, corruption of public officials, malversation through falsification of public documents, and violations of Republic Act (RA) 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, and RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, among others.

Martinez explained that the two cases form part of the six cases referred back by the Office of the Ombudsman to the DOJ following the latter's deputization by the former.

After the preliminary investigation, the DOJ will resolve the complaints to determine if they would be dismissed or filed in courts.

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