DOJ: NBI to file raps over Bulacan ghost projects

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla (Photo: Boying Remulla/Facebook)

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is expected to file charges over three ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.

“They just validated the information of three ghost projects that they found within the coordinates given in the Isumbong mo kay Pangulo website. So, they’re just tying up the loose ends so that we can file a case on that,” Remulla told reporters.

“On the average, that would be PHP300 million and PHP100 million per district per project package. Kasi parang naging pattern na (It has become a pattern), PHP96 million, PHP97 million, PHP100 million, PHP95 billion. So, if you talk about three packages, then that’s around PHP300 million. We just have to do something about it. And we will pursue it to the very end,” he said.

Meanwhile, Remulla clarified that while he had conversed by telephone with Senator Rodante Marcoleta, he did not give the lawmaker “unqualified assurance” that the Discaya couple would be admitted as government witnesses.

Couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya are the owners of firms with the biggest share of flood control projects.

“We spoke on the phone for a few minutes. And it’s not supposed to mean that I already committed to make a state witness somebody I’ve never met in my life,” Remulla said.

“This is serious business. I hope that he has a recording of what we talked about. You do not create a state witness just like that. It doesn’t happen that way that because somebody asked you and you are good friends, that it will happen already. It has to go through a process of evaluation.”

Remulla said there are standards set when it comes to the application of people who want to be state witnesses.

“The first question is, are they telling the whole truth? Yun muna yung tatanungin mo (That is what need to ask first),” he said.

Remulla said they also need to evaluate the Discaya couple’s record as contractors.

“We have to find out first the elements of the crime before we make judgement on the readiness to become a state witness. Hindi naman ganoon kadali yan (It’s not that easy),” he added.