The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday filed plunder and graft charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the flood control corruption scandal.
According to a report by RH Val Gonzales on "Rapido Hataw Balita," Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano personally led the filing of the cases together with other Ombudsman personnel, carrying documents and evidence against the senator.
In a follow-up press briefing at the Office of the Ombudsman, Clavano said former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan and several local DPWH engineering officials were also included among the respondents.
Charged alongside Estrada and Bonoan are local engineering officials from the National Capital Region, Assistant District Engineer Denril Cesar S. Cortuna, and District Engineers Manny B. Bulusan and Arturo L. Gonzalez Jr.
Aside from plunder and graft charges, the Ombudsman also filed two administrative cases against Estrada.
“Our office found probable cause to indict the principal respondents for plunder under Republic Act 7080 and violations of Section 3E of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act under Republic Act No. 3019," he said.
Clavano said the cases stem from an “intricate mechanism involving illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations within the DPWH infrastructure portfolio for fiscal year 2025.“
“Our evaluation shows that substantial public funds were deliberately funneled into designated infrastructure projects in exchange for predetermined commission fees or kickbacks,“ he added.
The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended no bail for Estrada.
Clavano said the investigation shows a total of over ₱573 million in alleged kickbacks was systematically delivered to Estrada.
“Case records point to an accumulated sum of illicit payouts amounting to an aggregate sum of over 573 million pesos, which were systematically delivered to the principal respondent, Senator Jinggoy Estrada," he added.
“The Office acknowledges that the LBRMO, Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office, has issued a certificate regarding the absence of documented initiation of budget insertions by the respondent. However, this certificate does not capture all stages of the budgetary process wherein insertions may be made in a layered method,“the Assistant Ombudsman said.
Meanwhile, Clavano clarified that former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo, former NCR Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, and former Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara were excluded from the charges after agreeing to serve as state witnesses under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) and providing statements relevant to the investigation.
Estrada was implicated in the controversy after former DPWH-Bulacan District Engineer Brice Hernandez accused him of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects.
“I want to emphasize that this is very clear. Our case is built on solid, immovable evidence. These state witnesses have provided comprehensive, cross-corroborated sworn statements that map out the execution of this scheme from its inception down to the logistics of the illicit payouts,” Clavano noted.
The criminal informations have now been docketed before the Sandiganbayan, where the cases will be raffled to a division that will handle trial proceedings, according to Clavano.
Clavano said the assigned division will independently review the records to determine probable cause for the issuance of arrest warrants against principal respondents, if warranted.
The Ombudsman also said it would seek hold departure orders to prevent respondents from leaving the country while the cases are ongoing.
“The office will pursue whole departure orders for the respondents so as to preserve the integrity of the case in court,” Clavano said.
“The Office of the Ombudsman is determined to pursue all cases still pending. We have one shot to get these cases right. The Filipino people need to see justice. This office is here to make sure we deliver just that,” it added.
However, Estrada and Bonoan have firmly denied the allegations.
“Basta ang alam ko... wala akong insertion na katulad ng sinasabi nila, nung binulgar ni Brice Hernandez sa House na meron akong insertion. Wala silang record na ako ay meron insertion na ganong halaga,” Estrada told reporters on Tuesday.
“If this is the price that I have to face for standing on my own principles on what I believe in, so be it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 52 earlier issued a precautionary hold departure order (HDO) against Estrada and several former DPWH officials in connection with plunder and other criminal complaints arising from the alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan. In an order dated February 10, 2026, the Manila court directed immigration authorities to prevent the respondents from leaving the country while the cases are pending.
Estrada had previously been acquitted of plunder charges related to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
He was initially convicted of bribery and indirect bribery but was later cleared by the court due to insufficient evidence. However, the senator still faces graft charges related to the PDAF controversy.
Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said another case involving Senator Joel Villanueva may be filed within the next two weeks.
Remulla also disclosed that at least three more senators could face charges, although it remains unclear whether all the cases would involve plunder.
