THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas to the respondents in the complaints involving five ghost flood control projects in Bulacan, signaling the start of the preliminary investigation, according to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon on Monday.
Fadullon stated that the subpoenas were issued last week, and the first hearing is scheduled for November 10. DOJ officer-in-charge Fredderick Vida confirmed that some of the subpoenas have been personally served in the initial five cases where the DOJ has been deputized by the Office of the Ombudsman. Vida added that the respondents and charges have been identified, and more cases are expected to follow.
“Some of the subpoenas have been personally served, no, ‘yung initial na five cases no, where the DOJ has been deputized by the Office of the Ombudsman,” Vida said. “That process will start so identified na ‘yung mga respondents doon, identified na rin ‘yung charges, no? Soon, there will be more.”
The DOJ had initially recommended filing graft, malversation, perjury, and falsification of public documents charges against officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Bulacan First District Engineering Office and several contractors to the Office of the Ombudsman. However, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla returned the information against the respondents and deputized the DOJ to prosecute the charges, including conducting the preliminary investigation and filing the cases. Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez previously indicated that the DOJ aims to complete its preliminary investigation within a month.
