Ombudsman: Up to 15 more flood control cases will be filed before year end

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday that 14 to 15 more cases will be filed before the year ends against individuals allegedly linked to the flood control scandal. 

Remulla said this following the Senate plenary debates on the proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Ombudsman, but he did not identify the people who will face the charges. 

“There will be more charges filed. Marami na ring napa-file na kaso. Marami na (there were many cases filed and many are now) under preliminary investigation. There are at least siguro (maybe)…14 or 15 cases,” he said. 

Asked if those will be filed before year end, Remulla said, “Oh yeah.” 

The Ombudsman on Tuesday filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against former Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 4B, and Sunwest Corporation directors.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano told reporters that the charges were in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

On Friday, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and DPWH also recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery charges against Co and Leyte Representative and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

Both Romualdez and Co have denied any involvement in the flood control controversy. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News