Jinggoy Estrada Plunder Case: Ombudsman Eyes Thursday Filing
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said plunder and malversation charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada over the flood control mess may be filed Thursday.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada is set to face plunder and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan over the flood control controversy, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Remulla told reporters Tuesday that the case was already being finalized and that he hoped to file it first thing Thursday morning. He said the Ombudsman took extra time to polish the case after reviewing the Department of Justice resolution and finding portions that needed corrections.
The Ombudsman said the case is based on the DOJ recommendations submitted on May 11, plus a parallel investigation by Ombudsman investigators. Remulla also said a separate plunder case against Senator Joel Villanueva is expected to be filed in about two weeks.
Estrada, in a chance interview, said he would consult his legal team and maintained that official budget records do not support claims that he inserted funds into the proposed budget. He said the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office had no record of the alleged insertion cited in earlier hearings.
The issue remains a major political story because it ties sitting senators to the government’s flood control mess, a topic with wide public interest amid corruption concerns. Source: GMA News Online
