Manila - Philippine graft investigators on Wednesday recommended criminal charges against 17 public works officials for corruption in a road project funded by the World Bank.

Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni said investigators found probable cause to file charges against the 17 officials for allegedly rigging the bidding for the 330-million-dollar project.

Jalandoni said the officials allowed the bidding for the road project to proceed despite the fact that the bids were above the approved budget.

He said the move was "an indication of collusion between and among members of the Bids and Awards Committee and the bidders." It also gave rise to suspicions that the members of the committee were "materially interested in the bidding of road contracts."

The alleged corruption was revealed in January when the World Bank blacklisted seven companies - three Filipino and four Chinese - involved in the project after an investigation found evidence of bid-rigging.

The investigation stopped the awarding of an estimated 33 million dollars for the project, according to the World Bank.

In the investigation conducted by the World Bank, three witnesses, including a Japanese contractor, alleged that the husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and other top government officials were involved in the bid-rigging.

Jalandoni said the Office of the Ombudsman would investigate the allegations against Mr. Arroyo and other top government officials in the second phase of the probe.

Mr. Arroyo, who has in the past been linked to other anomalies and scandals in the government, denied any involvement in the World Bank road project. He has, however, refused to attend a Senate inquiry on the controversy. (dpa)