DOJ subpoenas respondents in Bulacan ghost flood control projects

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

By Ramon FVelasquez – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has subpoenaed several individuals named in the five alleged anomalous flood projects in Bulacan.

In a message to reporters, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said subpoenas for the flood control cases pending with the DOJ were served last week and the first hearing for preliminary investigation is scheduled on Nov. 10 at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida expressed hope that the preliminary investigation and the filing of charges in court for the five cases will be finished within this year.

“My appeal is that we follow the process. Hindi tayo pwede mag-short cut (We cannot make short cuts). We cannot play God on this. We need to follow the rule of law,” Vida told reporters on the sidelines of the Justice Summit in Pasay City.

Documents earlier submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman by the DOJ recommended the prosecution of former District Engineering Office of Bulacan 1 officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Arjay Domasig, Jaypee Mendoza, Nino Lawrence Morales, Juanito Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan and Christina Mae Pineda, as well as Syms Construction representative Sally Santos.

They face charges for malversation, falsification by public officers, perjury, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices.

However, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla remanded the cases back to the DOJ for the conduct of the preliminary investigation.