10 lawmakers to be charged next over pork scam

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—At least 10 lawmakers are included in the next batch of government officials who will be charged before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Both Justice Secretary Leila De Lima and lawyer Levito Baligod, counsel for the whistleblowers confirmed this Tuesday after their meeting at the Department of Justice. However, they refused to disclose the names of the officials, saying the National Bureau of Investigation is still gathering more evidence.

De Lima said the complaint would be filed either this week or next week.

She said the DOJ already has a list of people who would be charged but “whether or not they will be included in the next batch depends on the completeness of the documents gathered from certain offices.”

Napoles and 37 others were charged with plunder before the Ombudsman on September 16. Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. are among those accused of funnelling taxpayers’ money to Napoles bogus nongovernment organizations.

A second complaint filed before the Ombudsman includes former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita  among the more than 20 people accused of being involved in the Malampaya fund scam.