00:00The Justice Department is stepping up its efforts to hold those accountable for alleged corruption in several flood control projects.
00:06With malversation and plunder charges on the horizon, officials are waiting for a crucial report to solidify their case.
00:13Our Luisa Erispe reports.
00:17The Department of Justice, or DOJ, is building up cases of malversation and plunder against contractors and officials
00:25of the Department of Public Works and Highways, or DPWH, who are allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects.
00:33The DOJ is just waiting for the report of the National Bureau of Investigation, or NBI, for the case build-up.
00:40The NBI is giving me findings already. Nagbibigay na sila na findings about those projects.
00:46And we'll be filing cases very soon.
00:48Titignan namin kung kaya plunder. We'll see.
00:51Malversation, sigurado.
00:52The DOJ did not explain in detail who the possible respondents to the case are.
00:58But Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulia asks those involved that as early as now, stand for the truth and speak as witnesses.
01:06Because possible penalties for the case are lifetime imprisonment and forfeiture of properties.
01:13We will rely on the evidence. Cooperation will go a long way.
01:17And if you try to stonewall, then face the consequence.
01:22On Sara and Curly Diskaya's status as state witness,
01:26DOJ has not yet signed a previous request of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
01:31Secretary Remulia himself said he did not agree with the request,
01:35as he believes the Diskayas are not telling the whole truth despite their revelations during the hearing.
01:41When asked, what if the engineer of the DPWH, Bryce Hernandez, became a state witness instead?
02:11Remulia simply answered,
02:13We will evaluate everybody.
02:15We have several laws that concern whistleblowers, among them the Whistleblower Act and of course the rules of court and other jurisprudence on state witnesses.
02:29The DOJ is eyeing to ask for copies of the committee reports from the Senate and Congress on their investigation on flood control projects.
02:38But still, this will be evaluated and will undergo case build-up.
02:42Remulia said they are more focused now on the findings of the independent commission ordered formed by President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr.
02:51Remulia even defended its creation for those who are questioning its legalities.
02:56The DOJ assured the conduct of an evidence-based probe.
03:18And they are also conducting forensic accounting to find out the overall amount of money divested from government funds for accountability of those involved.
03:28Luisa Erispe from the National TV for a new and better Philippines.
