The Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended filing of charges against  twenty-one people, including incumbent lawmakers Zaldy Co, Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada for their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects

The DOJ released the names of individuals who would be subjected to case build-up with the National Prosecution Service, based on the recommendation from the National Bureau of Investigation.

1.   Congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co

2.  Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero

3.  Senator Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva

4.  Senator Jose “Jingoy Estrada” Pimentel Ejercito Jr. 

5.  Alias “Beng Ramos”

6.  Alias “Mina”

7.  Undersecretary Mary Mitzi “Mitch” Lim Cajayon-Uy   

8.  Mr. Maynard Ngu

9.  Former Senator Ramon Bautista “Bong” Revilla Jr. 

10.              Carleen Villa

11.              Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo

12.              Engineer Henry Alcantara

13.              John Carlo Rivera

14.              Linda “Victoria” Macanas

15.              Juanito Mendoza, CPA

16.              Sally Nicolas Santos

17.              Jesse Mahusay

18.              Alias “Andrei Balatbat”

19.              Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez

20.              Engineer Jaypee Mendoza

21.              Engineer Arjay Domasig 

The DOJ said the recommendation stemmed from affidavits of former Department of Public Works and Highways officials Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, and Bernardo submitted to the justice department this week.

“Their statements provided the basis for identifying these individuals as having sufficient preliminary links to the acts under investigation,” the DOJ said.

The NBI’s recommendation was not based on speculation nor rumor, but the result of testimonies under oath.

“If names have circulated outside of these affidavits, those are not recognized by the DOJ or the NBI until such time that they are sworn to under proper proceedings,” the DOJ said.

Asked why former Senator Nancy Binay, who was named by Bernardo, was not included in the list, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said they were still working on it.

“We’re working on it, marami pa iyan, marami pa kaming kakasuhan hindi lang kayang sabay-sabay,” Remulla said.

DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said there was a “direct line” only to Villa, the supposed trusted staff of Binay.

“The line to Sen. Binay is still being built,” Clavano said.

Clavano said the NBI was evaluating other individuals who were not included in the list.

“NBI is strengthening the links so it is ripe for recommendation to the NPS,” Clavano said.

Meanwhile, private contractor Sally Santos was added to the list of individuals provisionally accepted to the Witness Protection Program.

Santos’ lawyer Bernard Jonathan Gatchalian said they have not yet discussed the possibility of his client being declared as a state witness.

“Ang napag-usapan lang namin talaga is, attorney gusto ko ng sabihin lahat, if my statement will be considered enough to be a state witness, of course, makikiisa siya sa programang iyon,” Gatchalian said.

Clavano said the department was aware that a notary public denied signing the affidavit of Orly Guteza, supposedly a former aide of Co.

“We are validating the news that the lawyer who supposedly notarized the affidavit disowned the same,” Clavano said.

Clavano added that DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was scheduled to meet with Guteza but he did not show up.

Aside from Santos, private contractor Sarah Discaya and Alcantara showed up at the DOJ for further evaluation for the WPP.