00:00Today, the Office of the Ombudsman has approved a review resolution that has caused the immediate filing of criminal sets
00:08of information before the Sandigan Bayan against Senator Jose Jinggoy P. Ejercito Estrada, former DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, and
00:20several local DPWH engineering officials.
00:23Following a rigorous and independent evaluation of the investigation forwarded to us by the NPI-DOJ Public Works and Bid
00:33Rigging Task Force, our office found probable cause to indict the principal respondents for plunder under Republic Act 7080 and
00:45violations of Section 3E of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act under Republic Act No. 3090.
00:53Charged alongside Senator Estrada and former Secretary Bonoan are local engineering officials from the National Capital Region, Assistant District Engineer
01:05Denril Cesar S. Cortuna, and District Engineers Manny B. Bulusan and Arturo L. Gonzalez Jr.
01:14The cases stem from an intricate mechanism involving illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations within the DPWH infrastructure portfolio for
01:28fiscal year 2025.
01:29Our evaluation shows that substantial public funds were deliberately funneled into designated infrastructure projects in exchange for predetermined commission fees
01:42or kickbacks.
01:44Case records point to an accumulated sum of illicit payouts amounting to an aggregate sum of over P573 million,
01:53which were systematically delivered to the principal respondent,
01:58which were systematically delivered to the principal respondent, Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
02:00The office acknowledges that the LBRMO, Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office, has issued a certificate regarding the absence of
02:10documented initiation of budget insertions by the respondent.
02:15However, this certificate does not capture all stages of the budgetary process wherein insertions may be made in a layered
02:23method.
02:26I would also like to clarify the status of the status of the other individuals originally named in the complaint.
02:32The charges against former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cathy E. Cabral are formally dismissed by reason of her passing pursuant
02:42to the revised penal code.
02:43Meanwhile, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, former NCR Regional Director Gerard P. Opulencia and former Bulacan First District Engineer
02:56Henry C. Alcantara have been formally excluded from the criminal sets of information file.
03:03This is in view of their official admission into the Department of Justices with this Protection Program under Republic Act
03:106981.
03:12I want to emphasize that this is very clear. Our case is built on solid, immovable evidence.
03:20These state witnesses have provided comprehensive, cross-corroborated sworn statements that map out the execution of this scheme from its
03:29inception down to the logistics of the illicit payouts.
03:33As for our next steps, the criminal sets of information are now being formally documented before the Sandigan Bayan.
03:40Following standard judicial procedure, we anticipate the immediate raffling of the case to determine which specific division of the Antigraf
03:49Court will handle the trial.
03:51Once assigned, the designated division will conduct its own independent judicial evaluation of the records.
03:57If the Honorable Court finds probable cause, we anticipate the subsequent issuance of warrants of arrest against the principal respondents.
04:07The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended no bail for the respondents in this case.
04:14Likewise, the Office will pursue whole departure orders for the respondents so as to preserve the integrity of the case
04:21in court.
04:23The Office of the Ombudsman is determined to pursue all cases still pending.
04:29We have one shot to get these cases right.
04:33The Filipino people need to see justice.
04:36This office is here to make sure we deliver just that.
04:41Thank you very much.
04:42The great thing happened to everyone.
04:43I will not be entertaining any questions as of this moment, but we will make sure to publicize any developments
04:49as they come.
04:50There are many six children.
04:52There are many six children.
04:52There are many six children.
04:54We have to get this ritual.
04:55That is the party's return to the meeting.
04:57In this situation.
04:58This is the party's return to the meeting.
04:59We are now for the committee, which is the party's return to the meeting.
05:03The party's return to the meeting.
05:04But the people who are out here, have a great deal of preparation.
05:04And of course, our partners may also be ready to cut up together.
05:05We will be on the meeting.
05:05The party's return to the debate.
05:05You
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