Jamaine Punzalan

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Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Twenty-one people, including incumbent lawmakers Zaldy Co, Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, comprise the list of individuals recommended for prosecution for their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, the Department of Justice said Friday. </p><p>In a statement, 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.</p><ol><li>Congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co</li><li>Senator Francis Joseph &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero</li><li>Senator Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva</li><li>Senator Jose “Jingoy Estrada” Pimentel Ejercito Jr. </li><li>Alias “Beng Ramos&quot;</li><li>Alias &quot;Mina&quot;</li><li>Undersecretary Mary Mitzi &quot;Mitch&quot; Lim Cajayon-Uy   </li><li>Mr. Maynard Ngu</li><li>Former Senator Ramon Bautista “Bong&quot; Revilla Jr. </li><li>Carleen Villa</li><li>Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo</li><li>Engineer Henry Alcantara</li><li>John Carlo Rivera</li><li>Linda &quot;Victoria&quot; Macanas</li><li>Juanito Mendoza, CPA</li><li>Sally Nicolas Santos</li><li>Jesse Mahusay</li><li>Alias &quot;Andrei Balatbat&quot;</li><li>Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez</li><li>Engineer Jaypee Mendoza</li><li>Engineer Arjay Domasig </li></ol><p>The DOJ said the recommendation stemmed from affidavits of former Department of Public Works and Highways officials <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/sham-flood-control-projects-placed-in-other-districts-upon-zaldy-co-s-order-alcantara-1108">Alcantara</a>, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/hernandez-clarifies-computer-contains-evidence-vs-house-members-not-senators-1212">Hernandez</a>, Mendoza, and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/ex-dpwh-exec-roberto-bernardo-admits-wrongdoing-in-flood-control-fiasco-0916">Bernardo</a> submitted to the justice department this week.</p><p>“Their statements provided the basis for identifying these individuals as having sufficient preliminary links to the acts under investigation,” the DOJ said. </p><p>The agency said the NBI’s recommendation was not based on speculation nor rumor, but the result of testimonies under oath.</p><p>“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.</p><p>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.</p><p>“We’re working on it, marami pa iyan, marami pa kaming kakasuhan hindi lang kayang sabay-sabay,” Remulla said.</p><p>DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said there was a “direct line” only to Villa, the supposed trusted staff of Binay.</p><p>“The line to Sen. Binay is still being built,” Clavano said.</p><p>Clavano said the NBI was evaluating other individuals who were not included in the list. </p><p>“NBI is strengthening the links so it is ripe for recommendation to the NPS,” Clavano said. </p><p>Meanwhile, private contractor <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/sally-santos-visits-doj-for-witness-protection-bid-1017">Sally Santos</a> was added to the list of individuals provisionally accepted to the Witness Protection Program.</p><p>Santos’ lawyer Bernard Jonathan Gatchalian said they have not yet discussed the possibility of his client being declared as a state witness.</p><p>“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.</p><div><strong>GUTEZA</strong></div><p>Clavano said the department was aware that a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/lawyers-says-she-did-not-notarize-sworn-statement-of-zaldy-co-s-former-consultant-2353">notary public denied signing the affidavit</a> of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/lawyers-says-she-did-not-notarize-sworn-statement-of-zaldy-co-s-former-consultant-2353">Orly Guteza, supposedly a former aide of Co.</a></p><p>“We are validating the news that the lawyer who supposedly notarized the affidavit disowned the same,” Clavano said.</p><p>Clavano added that DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was scheduled to meet with Guteza but he did not show up.</p><p>Aside from Santos, private contractor Sarah Discaya and Alcantara showed up at the DOJ for further evaluation for the WPP.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/26/lacson-background-check-on-totally-surprise-witness-guteza-needed-0923">Lacson: Background check on &#x27;totally surprise witness&#x27; Guteza needed</a></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fDjPUHMnDFg" title="Escudero, Binay, Revilla, Co, DepEd usec idinawit sa flood control scandal | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>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.</p><div><br/></div><p>“We’re working on it, marami pa iyan, marami pa kaming kakasuhan hindi lang kayang sabay-sabay,” Remulla said.</p><div><br/></div><p>DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said there was a “direct line” only to Villa, the supposed trusted staff of Binay.</p><div><br/></div><p>“The line to Sen. Binay is still being built,” Clavano said.</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Twenty-one people, including incumbent lawmakers Zaldy Co, Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, comprise the list of individuals recommended for prosecution for their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, the Department of Justice said Friday.</p>

Twenty-one people, including incumbent lawmakers Zaldy Co, Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, comprise the list of individuals recommended for prosecution for their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, the Department of Justice said Friday.

21 people recommended for case build-up, prosecution in flood control mess

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21 people recommended for case build-up, prosecution in flood control mess

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 26, 2025 02:38 PM PHT

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Updated September 26, 2025 05:29 PM PHT

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