Ombudsman says Davao City 'epicenter of flood control' before Marcos admin

The Office of the Ombudsman said on Tuesday that it will investigate Davao City, which is believed to be the "epicenter of flood control" projects before the Marcos administration.

ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio asked Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla if the anti-graft body is doing something about the anomalous flood control projects in the past administration.

"Ang flood control corruption ay hindi naman nagsimula sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Bagaman talagang pambihira ang paglaki at paglaganap nito...Mayroon bang ginagawa ang Ombudsman sa pag-imbestiga sa mga flood control corruption issues sa panahon pa ng nakaraang administrasyon?" he asked during the briefing on the proposed budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for 2027.

(Corruption in flood control did not start with the current administration. Although its growth and spread are truly extraordinary... Is the Ombudsman doing anything to investigate the flood control corruption issues from the time of the previous administration?)

In response, Remulla agreed that the flood control woes began even before the present administration.

"Opo, hindi lang po madali talaga. Sapagkat sabihin natin, ang epicenter po ng flood control, bago dumating ang Marcos administration, ay Davao City," the Ombudsman said.

(Yes, it is just really not easy. Because let's say, the epicenter of flood control, before the Marcos administration came, was Davao City.)

"Ang ecosystem of corruption ay mabigat. Mahirap pong pasukin. Mahirap pong kumuha ng impormasyon. Maraming tao ang hindi nagsasalita. Pero hindi kami tumitigil. Davao po yung ecosystem na aming tinutukoy. Maraming pondo na pumasok daw flood control. Yan po yung aming kinakalap nang husto," he added.

(The ecosystem of corruption is deep. It is hard to penetrate. It is hard to get information. Many people are not speaking up. But we are not stopping. Davao is the ecosystem we are referring to. Allegedly, a lot of funds went into flood control. That is what we are gathering thoroughly.)

Moreover, Remulla said that the Office of the Ombudsman will also look into the other provinces.

"At meron pa pong mga lalawigan na naming tinitingnan sa panahong 'yun upang makita yung pattern kung saan nagsisimula yung pattern," he said.

(And there are other provinces that we are looking into during that time to see the pattern, where it starts.)

The Ombudsman said that they are planning to establish a committee that would look into how government offices spend their budgets.

"Kaya ang aming gagawin dito sa opisina, magtatayo kami ng isang committee na babantayan lamang ang budget at kung paano ginagastos ang pera ng bayan, na pwede ring maging sumbungan ng taong bayan kung mayroong pagmamalabis," Remulla added.

(So what we will do here in the office is set up a committee dedicated solely to monitoring the budget and how public funds are spent, which can also serve as a channel for the public to file complaints if there is abuse.)

Meanwhile, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte slammed Remulla over his allegations.

"Boying Remulla, bago ninyo ideklara na Davao City ang 'epicenter' ng flood control corruption noong Duterte administration, baka puwedeng silipin muna ninyo ang mismong records ng DPWH," he said in a statement on Facebook.

(Boying Remulla, before you declare Davao City as the 'epicenter' of flood control corruption during the Duterte administration, maybe you could first take a look at the actual records of the DPWH.)

"At kung imbestigahan niyo ang Davao dapat hindi lang during my term po ha, 2019 lang po ako naupo na congressman sa aming lugar. Long before I became congressman, Nograles po ang congressman sa aming distrito," he added.

(And if you investigate Davao, it shouldn't just be during my term. I only took office as congressman in our area in 2019. Long before I became congressman, a Nograles was the congressman in our district.)

The Davao lawmaker and son of former president Rodrigo Duterte also called out Remulla for making hasty statements.

"Kaya sana, Jesus Crispin Remulla, huwag sana tayong padalos-dalos sa pagbitiw ng mga salita at baka ikasisira lang ito sa kredibilidad ng institusyon lalo na at nasa pag-iimbestiga pa lang kayo na stage. Ang Ombudsman ay dapat naghahanap ng katotohanan—not convenient villains," said Duterte.

(So hopefully, Jesus Crispin Remulla, let's not be reckless with our words because it might just ruin the credibility of the institution, especially since you are still in the investigation stage. The Ombudsman should be searching for the truth—not convenient villains.)

"At kung Davao ang tinutukoy ninyong “epicenter,” then show us the complete records. Lahat ng taon. Lahat ng proyekto. Lahat ng pangalan. Walang pili. Walang exempted," the congressman added.

(And if Davao is the 'epicenter' you are referring to, then show us the complete records. Every year. Every project. Every name. No cherry-picking. No one exempted.) —LDF, GMA News