The Office of the Ombudsman orders the filing of criminal cases against Sarah Discaya and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways Davao Occidental District Engineering Office due to a P96.5-million ghost project.

Discaya and others will face cases over malversation of public funds and alleged violation of section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 

This will be the second set of flood control-related cases that will reach the courts. | via @Jairo Bolledo-Rappler @here

Good work, OMB. What will be its final result? Will there be conviction?

NEWS UPDATE: DOJ finds sufficient evidence to file kidnapping with homicide case against gaming tycoon Charlie "Atong" Ang and 24 others in relation to the missing sabungeros case.

Kidnapping is a non-bailable offense.

Run "Atong," etc., run. Hide "Atong" hide. The "hide and seek and catch me if you can" game begins! 😊

Ahead of the Christmas season, human rights defenders share their Christmas wish: “Ang Wish Namin Ngayong Pasko ay Makulong Lahat ng Korap”

Lawyer Duke Ramil Perral Lincuna was shot dead while driving his car along Sacris Road, Barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City, at around 6 am on Thursday, December 11.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu Chapter condemned the killing of the lawyer in a statement released on the same day. | via @John Sitchon - Rappler

Photo from IBP Cebu

WARRANT OUT VS SARAH DISCAYA

A court issues a warrant of arrest against embattled contractor Sarah Discaya and others accused over a P96-M ghost project in Davao Occidental, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announces on Thursday, December 18.

Discaya and some DPWH officials are facing graft and malversation cases. These are non-bailable offenses so they will be arrested and held under detention.

BREAKING: Embattled contractor Sarah Discaya is arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over the a P96-M ghost project in Davao Occidental, the NBI confirms on Thursday night, December 18. 

Discaya, who's facing graft and non-bailable malversation charges, has been under the NBI's custody after surrendering there on December 9.

NEWS UPDATE: The Office of the Ombudsman orders Benguet authorities to take custody and preserve the cellphone and other digital devices of former DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral.

“The same is to be turned over to the investigators at the proper time,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano says.

Cabral, who’s tagged in the multi-billion flood control mess, was found unconscious in Benguet on Thursday, December 18.

Police are investigating the death of former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, who was found unconscious near Bued River along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Wednesday night, December 18, and was later declared dead, authorities said. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/former-dpwh-undersecretary-catalina-cabral-dies/

Good morning!

We’re here at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, where interior chief Jonvic Remulla is set to hold a press conference.

This comes after the death of former DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral, who was found unconscious and later pronounced as dead in Benguet on December 19.

Remulla reiterates the local police’s report that detailed the incident involving Cabral.

She asked to be dropped off along Kennon Road, and later failed to return to their hotel. Her driver reported her missing. She was later found unconscious after an alleged fall from a ravine. Doctor pronounced her dead on arrival at past 12 am on December 19.

Remulla says Cabral’s remains will undergo autopsy and DNA testing.

Local policemen inspect the spot where former DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral fell to her death in Sitio Marammal, Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet. The place is two minutes away from the P264-million anomalous rockshed project that the President had called “useless.” 

Contributed photos via Mia Magdalena Fokno/Rappler

NEWS UPDATE: The Supreme Court affirms the murder conviction of the three cops who killed 17-year-old Kian delos Santos at the height of former president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war in 2017.

The High Court's 2nd Division found cops Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda, and Jerwin Cruz guilty of murder, sentencing them to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years in prison. This SC decision affirms the earlier conviction of the lower court and the Court of Appeals.

NEWS UPDATE: The Office of the Ombudsman receives former DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral's computer and files from the DPWH to secure them.

The computer and files will undergo digital forensic test as part of the government's investigation into the flood control corruption.

It is alleged that Cabral holds the list of the proponents of the budget insertions through the DPWH.

sarah discaya