Remulla: Ombudsman to file flood control cases vs. Romualdez in six to nine months

The Ombudsman will file charges against former Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez in relation with the flood control mess in the next six to nine months, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.

Remulla made the remarks in a forum on the flood control controversy organized by the University of the Philippines College of Law and held at the U.P. Bonifacio Global City.

“Oh yes, yes ma’am. Yes ma’am,” the Ombudsman said in response to economist and U.P. professor Winnie Monsod’s question if a case would be filed against Romualdez in the next six to nine months.

Remulla added that the Ombudsman are looking at other angles but declined to go into detail. He said the Ombudsman has to go and look at the evidence “with a specific violation of the law.”

“I’ve discussed even this morning with my people. I’ve discussed with certain politicians from the House who are not with him. I just gave them an idea of what can be, what we are not getting about,” he said.

Monsod replied: “I will hold you to that.”

Remulla then assured that he will never file a lousy case as the country’s anti-graft buster.

“I do not want to find a lousy case. I will never find a lousy case. I’m not that kind of person. I want things to be done properly. I want it to be documented. I want it to be solid. And I want to look the justice as a guy. That way. If you miss out on this case, it’s your problem, not mine. Because that’s the way it should be,” he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Romualdez for his comment on Remulla’s remarks and will publish it once it is available.

Earlier this month, Remulla said Romualdez, as then Speaker, may be liable for gross negligence over the actions of ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co who is facing criminal complaints over an allegedly anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

He added that Romualdez cannot be blameless over Co’s alleged acts in the bicameral conference committee that reconciles the Senate and House versions of the proposed national budget.

Last weekend, Co released a series of videos and alleged that Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received up to P56 billion in kickbacks from allegedly anomalous flood control projects. He also claimed that Marcos ordered the insertion of P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget through the bicameral conference committee.

The former Speaker maintained his innocence amid Co’s allegations, adding that he would not comment on such claims that were not made under oath.

In the same forum on Thursday, Remulla said Romualdez, his fraternity brother, called him up before he assumed his post as Ombudsman.

“I answered his call once because we respect each other. That was before I assumed office, but after I was appointed. And after that, I didn’t talk to him anymore. Because I have to think clearly about these cases,” the Ombudsman added.

Meanwhile, Remulla said he has yet to encounter evidence that would point to Marcos’ involvement in the kickback scheme involving flood control projects.

“Wala pa, wala pa akong nakikita sa aking mga mata,” Remulla said in an interview on the sidelines of the forum when asked if there is no evidence pointing to the Palace or the President’s involvement in the flood control scam at this point.

(I haven’t seen such evidence with my eyes.)

Marcos previously brushed off Co’s allegations, saying he does not want to dignify the former lawmaker’s claims.

Remulla added that the investigation is far from over and that they don’t know where the probe will lead the Ombudsman as of now.

“Pero kinakailangan, pag-aralan natin. (We have to study it.) The evidence will take you where it will take you. It’s hard to make a comment unless the evidence is there. But the investigation will always lead to somewhere that, to some people who will be culpable,” he said, adding: “And we don't know where it would lead us right now.”

He assured that the Ombudsman will investigate allegations related to the flood control project controversy.

Earlier, Senate Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson cited the account of former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo that he personally handled P52 billion in alleged kickbacks from budget insertions, and that Bernardo allegedly delivered money to then Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.

“The revelations are fresh, and we’re still checking on everything. Wala naman tayo magagawa eh, kasi nandiyan na ‘yan eh, evidence na ‘yan eh. This is already an issue close to the hearts of Filipinos. Hindi ko naman kinuha ‘yung opisinang ito para mag-takip para kahit kanino. I did not get this office for that,” Remulla added.

(The revelations are fresh, and we’re still checking on everything. We can’t do anything about it because that’s evidence. This is already an issue close to the hearts of Filipinos. I did not seek the Ombudsman position to protect anybody. I did not get this office for that.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News