The Office of the Ombudsman has found sufficient grounds to file graft and malversation charges at the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan against former officials of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) as well as executives of two firms and a bank over the allegedly anomalous acquisition of the bank in 2009.

Among those facing indictment are former LWUA Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. and Valenzuela City (Metro Manila) Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, who was recently proclaimed senator and whom the Ombudsman said was then an executive of Wellex Group Inc. (WGI).