New plunder raps filed vs JPE, Bong, Jinggoy

MANILA, Philippines - The Field Investigation Office (FIO) of the Office of the Ombudsman announced yesterday that it has filed new plunder charges against Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada.

The new case is separate from the plunder complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation two months ago in relation to the pork barrel scam.

Field investigators of the anti-graft agency submitted its fact-finding probe report, which also recommends the filing of graft cases against the three senators and several government employees and officers of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the alleged misuse of the pork barrel or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers. 

The FIO filed the new charges with the Office of the Ombudsman, which will set the preliminary investigation on the case. 

The Office of the Ombudsman said certain public officials whose identities were not revealed are also facing administrative charges of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

With regard to the separate administrative cases against Enrile, Revilla, and Estrada, the charges are to be referred for appropriate action to the Senate Ethics Committee, which has administrative jurisdiction over members of the Senate.

The FIO was tasked to conduct an investigation into the PDAF scam in July 2013 when Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales motu proprio (even without a lodged complaint at the time) initiated a fact-finding investigation in response to news reports regarding whistle-blower Benhur Luy’s exposé of the pork barrel scam.