DOJ summons Estrada, Revilla over plunder raps
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to attend the preliminary investigation of the plunder complaints filed against them in connection with anomalous flood control projects.
Justice Undersecretary and DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said on Tuesday that subpoenas have been sent separately to Estrada, Revilla, Bonoan and their coaccused for the hearings set on Feb. 2 and Feb. 12.
“Subpoenas issued and waiting to complete receiving copies for their service to respondents,” he told reporters. The cases form part of three plunder complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation that are pending before the DOJ.
Estrada and Bonoan are corespondents in one of the cases, along with the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, suspended DPWH National Capital Region District Engineer Gerard Opulencia, dismissed Bulacan First District Engineering Office chief Henry Alcantara and several John and Jane Does.
However, Alcantara, Bernardo and Opulencia, along with contractor Sally Santos, have been admitted into the DOJ-Witness Protection Program.
Martinez had said in a previous interview that the plunder case against Estrada and Bonoan stemmed from alleged anomalous flood control projects and transactions in relation to the projects. He later clarified that the plunder case is not only for a single project or locality.
Bonoan was also implicated by Bernardo, who said that the former DPWH chief had control over insertions in the National Expenditure Program.
Second case
As for the plunder case against Revilla, his corespondents are Bernardo, Opulencia, Alcantara and some John and Jane Does.
The third plunder charge involves former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, whose whereabouts remain unknown. The case against Co, however, is already in the preliminary investigation stage.
Aside from plunder, Estrada and Bonoan are also facing cases for violating the Anti-Graft Law, Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers, and corruption of public officers.
The case was filed by the NBI-DOJ Public Works and Bid-Rigging Task Force.
Discaya tax case
Meanwhile, DOJ prosecutors have junked three out of the five tax evasion charges against private contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya. The two other complaints against the couple are set to be filed in the Court of Tax Appeals soon, according to Martinez.
The charges are for violations of the National Internal Revenue Code, specifically Sec. 254, or willful attempt to evade or defeat taxes; and Sec. 255, or the willful failure to supply correct and accurate information. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
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