MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) will bolster its evidence against Sen. Joel Villanueva after the Office of the Ombudsman ruled that the existing records were insufficient to immediately pursue malversation charges linked to the alleged flood control scam.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the DOJ would coordinate closely with the Ombudsman to address the deficiencies identified in the case, stressing that investigators remain committed to ensuring accountability.
“We need to know, I cannot say lacking documents no, kung hindi satisfied, we make it satisfactory kasi at the end of the day we want people accountable,” Vida said.
The move came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that the evidence against Villanueva was not yet sufficient for the filing of charges, despite earlier indications that the complaints were already ripe for court action.
In March, the DOJ announced that it had forwarded to the Ombudsman its recommendations on three malversation complaints against Villanueva arising from the alleged flood control project anomalies.
Vida said the DOJ would continue assisting the Ombudsman, which has jurisdiction over criminal cases involving incumbent senators.
The justice secretary noted that the DOJ had been deputized by the Ombudsman to help gather additional evidence in connection with the alleged irregularities.
“We continue working together, whatever the lacking documents or lacking pieces of evidence we continue what’s available,” Vida said.
Asked whether Villanueva could still eventually be charged, Vida said it would be premature to draw conclusions while the evidence-gathering process remains ongoing.
“That’s a presumption that we cannot reach at this time,” he said.
Villanueva has repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged flood control irregularities, maintaining that he neither participated in the supposed anomalies nor received kickbacks from the projects./PN
