The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to submit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the list of individuals it will recommend for prosecution in connection with the multi-billion-peso flood control scandal.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the names will be included in the bureau’s initial report, which will be turned over to the DOJ on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 17.
According to RH Jecelle Ricafort's report, the director declined to name the respondents but confirmed that several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and private contractors linked to questionable flood control projects are among those recommended for charges.
Moreover, the NBI’s probe revealed that at least seven to eight contractors had “interlocking” boards of directors, effectively eliminating competition in bidding.
“We have already coordinated with the Securities and Exchange Commission, checking the board of directors of all the 15 contractors na binanggit ng ating Pangulo. So, eto na naman, hindi ko pa masasabi sa inyo na in detail, but then, initially, we found that some of these contractors, at least seven of them or eight of them, have interlocking directors,“ Santiago said.
“Alam nyo, ibig sabihin nun, yung sabihin natin, huwag na tayong magbanggit ng pangalan ng contractor. ABCDE. ABCDE contractors have the same sets of officers. So, talagang nakakakita kami ng rigging ng bidding process. Yung ABCDEFG na 'yan, nakipag-bid sila, kahit na sino manalo dun, kanila pa rin, sila pa rin. Yun po ang initial na report ko po sa inyo,” he explained.
The bureau traced these irregularities to flood control projects in Mindoro and Bulacan, raising red flags about widespread collusion and corruption.
Santiago said the NBI expects to file cases within one to two months after a case build-up with the DOJ.
He also confirmed that the bureau has already coordinated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to scrutinize company registrations and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to monitor suspicious financial transactions.
