MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas to several individuals implicated in five alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.

In a statement to reporters, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the subpoenas for the pending flood control cases were served last week, with the first preliminary investigation hearing scheduled on November 10 at 1 p.m.

Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida expressed hope that the preliminary investigations and subsequent filing of charges in court for the five cases will be completed within the year.

“My appeal is that we follow the process. Hindi tayo pwede mag-short cut (We cannot make short cuts). We cannot play God on this. We need to follow the rule of law,” Vida told reporters during the Justice Summit in Pasay City.

Documents previously submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman by the DOJ recommended the prosecution of former Bulacan 1 District Engineering Office officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Arjay Domasig, Jaypee Mendoza, Nino Lawrence Morales, Juanito Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan, and Christina Mae Pineda, along with Syms Construction representative Sally Santos.

They face charges of malversation, falsification by public officers, perjury, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla remanded the cases back to the DOJ for the conduct of preliminary investigations. (PNA)