The Office of the Ombudsman is preparing to file plunder and malversation charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada before the Sandiganbayan later this week.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he would sign the resolution ordering the filing of the cases on Tuesday, with the formal submission scheduled for Thursday morning.
He said the complaint stemmed from a recommendation by the Department of Justice, which earlier sought charges against Estrada and several former Department of Public Works and Highways officials over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Remulla noted that the Ombudsman received the DOJ’s recommendation on May 18 but held off filing immediately to review and refine the case documents.
He said the office identified portions of the resolution that required revisions, prompting a more thorough evaluation before proceeding.
According to Remulla, the delay was meant to ensure that the charges filed before the Sandiganbayan would be complete and clearly presented.
The Ombudsman also disclosed that a separate plunder case was being readied against Sen. Joel Villanueva, which could be filed within the next two weeks.
He said the complaint against Villanueva was already nearing completion, although further work was still being done to finalize the supporting evidence and overall presentation of the case.