Ombudsman Remulla: Gov't working to keep us from becoming haven for ill-gotten wealth

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said the Philippine government is doing everything it can to ensure the United States is no longer used as a haven for ill-gotten wealth.

Remulla disclosed this during his recent meeting with the Filipino community in the US capital of Washington, DC.

“We are here to make sure the US is no longer a safe haven for ill-gotten wealth from the Philippines. We will do what we can to recover all that has been hidden here in the US,” Remulla said during his June 22 meeting with the Filipino community.

Before his Washington stop, Remulla addressed the Global Conference on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Remulla then cited that the fight against corruption is a shared responsibility that extends beyond government institutions, stressing overseas Filipinos are the Ombudsman’s partners in promoting transparency, integrity, and responsible public service.

“Tell us what you think. Share your expertise. We need all the help we can get as this is a big task ahead of us - but one we can accomplish together,” Remulla said.

The Ombudsman also highlighted the Office’s continuing efforts toward digital transformation, institutional reforms, stronger international cooperation, and more accessible public services consistent with the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 16.

“Ongoing reforms in the Office of the Ombudsman [are] anchored on strengthening public trust, enhancing institutional effectiveness, and ensuring that accountability mechanisms respond to the needs of the Filipino people — wherever they may be,” Remulla said.

“We must be the gold standard for governance and progressiveness. This way, we can respond faster and better.” Remulla added.

Back in 2014, the Sandiganbayan ruled with finality that the multimillion-dollar assets deposited by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. under the name of Arelma Inc. in the United States were illegally acquired and should be returned to Philippine coffers.

The former President, father of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was said to have made an initial deposit of $2 million at Merrill Lynch in New York, United States to a certain Arelma Inc.

The deposit that the former President made was supposedly sourced from one of his Swiss dollar accounts.

According to the Presidential Committee on Good Government, the deposit in the Arelma account has since ballooned to almost $40 million as of 2013.

It is unclear if these assets were already returned to the Philippine government.

The late President's namesake and incumbent President was asked about his position on the court order for the return of the ill-gotten Arelma assets in 2024, but the Chief Executive said he has no knowledge about the case and such question must be addressed to their lawyers. —LDF, GMA News