Manila, May 28 -- Non-bailable plunder and graft charges have been filed against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan over the flood control scandal, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano on Thursday said.

In a press briefing, Clavano said the plunder and graft cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman involve "illicit" payouts amounting to PHP573 million.

Likewise named respondents in the case are three engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-National Capital Region.

"Our evaluation shows that substantial public funds were deliberately funnelled into designated infrastructure projects in exchange for predetermined commission fees or kickbacks," Clavano sa...