Ombudsman: ICI wants charges vs. 8 solons over flood funds anomalies

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended the filing of criminal charges against eight members of the House of Representatives in connection with the anomalous flood control projects, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday. 

Remulla announced this on the second day of the ICI’s turnover of documents on its flood mess probe to the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City. 

“Sa Congress (House of Representatives) eight lang. 13 [House members] attended the hearings, but they only suggested eight to be prosecuted,” Remulla said in a press conference. 

Remulla, however, said that this does not mean the flood control probe will end with the eight House members. 

“We are looking beyond that figure [because] definitely we're way ahead of them in some of [investigation] fields, like [in] the investigation of congressmen,” Remulla said. 

“But their findings will be used by our teams to bolster the evidence they already have,” he added.

Likewise, Remulla said that the Ombudsman is still investigating senators who are allegedly involved in the flood control mess, among other personalities involved.

“On senators, the ones we're investigating are the same ones that the ICI also probed. I haven’t seen everything in the ICI files, but we will see that as the days go by," Remulla said.

The Ombudsman assured the public that government prosecutors are well-equipped to go after the perpetrators of the flood control mess, and that capacity is bolstered by the documents submitted to them by the ICI.

“We have the wisdom to deal with each and every case as they arrive at our doorstep, and they (ICI) people were able to source a lot of contract documents. Remember, these contract documents form the backbone of each and every case it (an anomalous project) is a violation of contract,” Remulla said.

“And it's not only a contract with the DPWH, but a contract with the Filipino people,” Remulla added, referring to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Ahead of Remulla’s press conference, ICI chairperson Andres Reyes, Jr. said the body's tenure will end on March 31 since it has already fulfilled its mandate. —LDF, GMA Integrated News