NBI recommends charges vs 21 solons, DPWH execs in infra deals

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended filing charges against 21 individuals, including lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, for their alleged involvement in anomalous government infrastructure deals.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the NBI's recommendation for prosecution, which stems from sworn testimonies provided by several key witnesses.

Among those recommended for charges are Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co, Senators Francis Joseph Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as former Senator Bong Revilla.

Several individuals with alias names and other government officials, including Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and Engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza, are also included in the NBI's recommendations.

The DOJ stated that the witnesses' sworn statements provided sufficient preliminary links to establish the involvement of the recommended individuals in the acts under investigation.

However, the DOJ noted that some names mentioned in previous Senate testimonies, such as former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senator Nancy Binay, were not included in the NBI's recommendation.