TAGUIG CITY  – As the people and business leaders grow weary about what they perceive as slow government action on punishing those involved in the multi-billion-peso flood control projects scandal and budget insertions,  the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)  recommended the filing of criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Emmanuel  Joel Villanueva and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, resigned Ako Bicol representative Elizaldy Co, and three others over their alleged links to the scandal.

The recommendations were contained in the Third Interim Report filed by the ICI head by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Estrada and Villanueva denied involvement in anomalies in flood control projects.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, said it will designate special courts in regional trial courts to exclusively handle cases stemming from the anomalous flood control projects.

The Court en banc issued Resolution A.M. No. 25-10-24-SC dated October 28 which addresses proposals concerning “Anomalous Flood Control and Infrastructure Projects.”

The en banc ordered the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to monitor the filing of corruption-related cases involving infrastructure projects before the RTCs.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is eyeing to file charges against high-ranking government officials and their cohorts allegedly involved in the anomalous flood control projects before the Sandiganbayan by November 25.

Remulla was referring to government officials who fall under Salary Grade 27 and above, and as such, under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan or the anti-graft court.

Those cases against individuals under Salary Grade 26 and below and their alleged co-conspirators are under the jurisdiction of regional trial courts.

“The target [date of filing] is really by November 25, we will have cases in the Sandiganbayan already, meaning filed before the Sandiganbayan. Sa indictment na [namin papangalanan. We’d rather name the official when we file the case. One official, ….and there are others because of the ICI filing,” Remulla said.

In other developments:

1. Three registered air assets connected to former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co have left the country, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). Two AgustaWestland helicopters are currently in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, having flown there on August 20 and September 11, respectively,” the CAAP said in a statement. “Meanwhile, the Gulfstream aircraft has been in Singapore since August 16,” it added.

2. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco filed a bill seeking to create a more powerful ICI that will have the power to file cases, issue subpoenas, and seek preventive suspensions and hold departure orders against officials suspected of corruption.

3 . Rep. Leila de Lima (PL, Mamamayang Liberal) seeks to grant the Office of the Ombudsman the power to examine and access bank accounts and records while conducting an investigation, without the need to secure a court order through House Bill No. 5701, which seeks to amend Section 15 (8) of Republic Act (RA) No. 6770, otherwise known as “The Ombudsman Act of 1989,” and Section 2 of RA 1405, or the “Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits,” as amended.

4. The militant Makabayan bloc at the House expressed dissatisfaction over the ICI’s move to file charges. “We, the Makabayan bloc in Congress, acknowledge the (ICI’s) long-overdue move to recommend criminal and administrative charges,” party-list Reps. Antonio Tinio (ACT), Sarah Elago (Gabriela) and Renee Co (Kabataan) said in a joint statement. “However, we must underscore: this is far from satisfactory and is grossly lacking given the massive scale and entrenched nature of this corruption.”

The lawmakers said the people are “demanding genuine accountability for the brazen plunder of flood control funds.” They said that while the ICI’s announcement may seem like a step forward, “in truth, it is a small and incomplete move.”