Ombudsman 'very close' to finishing fact-finding vs. Romualdez

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said his office is very close to finishing its fact-finding investigation against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over the flood control controversy.

“We’re very close to filing the plunder charges. But we still have to cross the Ts and dot some Is and probably two periods and sentences. ‘Yun na lang, ganoon kalapit na ‘yan (it’s that close),” he said in a press briefing.

Remulla declined to reveal what pieces of evidence the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team is relying on, but he had previously said that his office is looking into what had transpired in the small committee, the alleged unofficial committee with select congressmen where alleged budget insertions were made in the 2025 national budget after having it approved in the bicameral conference committee.

He said that he wants to make sure that cases filed can stand in court, admitting that those they are up against have the resources to counter.

“Mahirap kalaban ang maraming magagaling na abogado at maraming pera, ako aminado ako d’yan. Ilang abogado ba ang hinire nila d'yan kulang ang isandaan abogado d’yan na nagtatrabaho sa kanila before and after ‘yan,” Remulla said.

(It's difficult to go up against so many highly skilled lawyers and so much money. I admit that. I don't even know how many lawyers they've hired—there are probably close to a hundred working for them, both before and now.)

According to the Ombudsman, the case is “about ready for preliminary investigation.”

“Kailangan kasi kapag tiningnan ‘yung kasong fina-file mo, isang buo siyang kapanipaniwala at madaling makapa. Kasi, baka mamaya kung saan-saan nanggagaling ‘yung idea mo, hindi maganda ang pagkakagawa, siyempre ma-su-suffer ang kaso,” Remulla said.

(When the case you are filing is examined, it has to be coherent, credible, and easy to follow. Because if your ideas are coming from all over the place and the case is poorly put together, then of course the case will suffer.)

In June, the Ombudsman defended its plan to tap former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a state witness, saying his testimony could help build a stronger case against Romualdez.

When asked if the case against Romualdez will still stand without Bonoan, Remulla said that the case is not that simple.

“You’re talking about layers and layers of lawyers. People who will defend and go to any extent to defend their client. So hindi ganoon kadali. But we’re managing to thread the needle, so to speak,” he said.

Remulla also said that at least five lawmakers who are also contractors or “congtractors” are undergoing fact-finding investigations or are near the preliminary investigation stage, including Tarlac 2nd District Rep. Maria Cristin Angeles, former Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Dong Gonzalez, Construction Workers Solidarity Partylist Representative Edwin Gardiola, Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Representative James Jojo and Tarlac Representative Noel Rivera.

Complaints against Senators Francis Escudero and Joel Villanueva are undergoing fact-finding.

Remulla concedes that the public is getting impatient but said that they have to follow due process.

“Sistema ng batas natin ‘yan eh, kahit sabihin mo sa akin na bilisan mo ‘yan ‘pag hindi kumpleto ‘yan hindi ko ifa-file ‘yan. Hindi pwedeng ifa-file mo, iwe-weaponize mo. Dapat d’yan ‘pag finile mo, dapat mo nang panindigan,” Remulla said

(That's how our legal system works. Even if you tell me to speed it up, I won't file it unless it's complete. You can't file a case just to weaponize it. If you're going to file one, you have to be prepared to stand by it.)

As a former congressman, Remulla said running after congressmen is not an easy job, but one that must be done to once and for all put a stop to the corruption scheme which he called “obscene.”

“Ano, naging congressman ka para makakuha ka ng project para yumaman ka? Mahalay eh ‘di ba?,” he asked.

(Did you become a congressman just to get government projects and enrich yourself? That's obscene, isn't it?)—LDF, GMA News