DILG’s Remulla: Congressman, contractor offered P2-B bribe amid flood control mess

A congressman and a contractor allegedly tried to bribe Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and his brother Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla with a total of P2 billion amid the flood control corruption probe.

Jonvic said the attempts were made through "emissaries" of the “contractor” and “incumbent congressman-contractor.”

“Dalawa na nga. Dalawang grupo na ang nanuhol sa amin…Isang contractor at isang congressman na contractor. Opo times two na po. Isang grupong Visayas-Mindanao, isang grupong Luzon,” he told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(There are two already. Two groups have attempted to bribe us…A contractor and a congressman who is a contractor. Yes, times two. A Visayas-Mindanao group, a Luzon group.)

“Gusto nilang tulungan namin sila sa kaso nila. Matanggal sila sa listahan, bigyan ng bail, iyon ang mga hinihingi nila,” he added.

(They want us to help them with their case. They should be removed from the list and given bail; that’s what they are asking for.)

Asked why the they were not immediately arrested, Jonvic said they can easily deny that the bribe attempts came from them and dismissed the reports as “hearsay” because these were not direct offers. 

Jonvic said he did not reach out to the congressman and contractor after the incidents, as he did not personally know them, and such actions are outside his function as Interior and Local Government secretary.

Asked about Boying’s reaction to the bribe offers, Jonvic said, “Natawa nga siya, sabi, ‘Ganiyan ba kaliit ang tingin sa atin? Ganiyan na lang ba? ’” 

(He laughed, saying, "Do they really think so little of us?”) —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News