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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Jinggoy Estrada on DOJ resolution: 'It's baffling and unjust'

Jinggoy Estrada on DOJ resolution: 'It's baffling and unjust'

Published May 19, 2026 03:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Tuesday, May 19 questioned the Department of Justice's (DOJ) move to recommend the filing of charges against him and other former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in connection with flood control project anomalies.

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Tuesday, May 19 questioned the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) move to recommend the filing of charges against him and other former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in connection with flood control project anomalies. 

Estrada, who is now part of the Senate majority bloc after helping install Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate President,  questioned the recent development, saying it is “baffling and unjust.”

“This is an unfortunate development. I find this baffling and unjust, considering that the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) categorically stated that there is no record showing that I introduced any insertions into the 2025 national budget,” Estrada said in a statement.

The senator pointed out that even Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, then the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, took cognizance of this development as a vital piece of information regarding the issues being raised against him. 

“That is why, on May 15, I formally filed before the DOJ an omnibus motion to reopen the preliminary investigation into the cases filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) concerning the flood control projects,” he said.

“The motion seeks to allow the presentation and consideration of additional evidence and matters crucial to a fair and objective determination of the complaints,” the senator added.

Estrada insisted due process and fairness is imperative and that all relevant evidence and official findings must be fully considered before conclusions are drawn.

Still, the lawmaker said he is prepared to face these allegations being hurled against him. 

“Nonetheless, I remain committed to addressing these allegations through the proper legal processes, and I am confident that the truth, supported by facts and official records, will ultimately prevail,” he further said.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, in an interview, said the DOJ particularly recommended the filing of cases, including plunder, graft and bribery against Estrada and some DPWH officials.

Clavano said this is contained in the resolution of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service and supposedly stemmed from a comprehensive preliminary investigation in connection to the criminal complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation-Department of Justice (NBI-DOJ) Public Works and Bid-Rigging Task Force.

“Following months of evaluation, the submission of counter-affidavits, and extensive evidence-gathering, the DOJ panel concluded that there is an interconnected network of public officers who abused their official designations to manipulate project specifications, clear budgets, and rig public bidding workflows,” he said.

According to Clavano, Estrada is included in the primary respondents named in the DOJ resolution.

Related Tags

Jinggoy Estrada DOJ Ombudsman flood control anomalies
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