Newly-Installed Ombudsman Remulla Speaks on Flood Control Issue in PH
Ombudsman Remulla claimed that even the relatives of President Bongbong Marcos will not be spared from the flood control case.
The flood control mess left countless Filipinos disappointed. Several officials of the government were tagged in the supposed multi-billion corruption through the flood control projects funded by the state. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had a change of leadership amid the issue.
Sen. Chiz Escudero who was ousted and replaced by now-Senate Pres. Tito Sotto is faced with an accusation of allegedly receiving a P160-million kickback from the flood control projects. The allegation was made by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
The House of Representatives is now led by House Speaker Bojie Dy after presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House speaker. He was one of the congressmen tagged by the Discayas in their joint affidavit during a Senate flood probe.
According to controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, they allegedly had no choice but to ride on the supposed “system” of giving kickbacks to the congressmen for the flood control projects awarded to them to push through. They also made similar accusations against Zaldy Co who resigned from being the representative of Ako Bicol Partylist and congressmen Arjo Atayde, Roman Romulo, and Marcy Teodoro among others.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez claimed that he stepped down from the House speakership so the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI can fully exercise its mandate to investigate. The ICI was formed under the order of Marcos Jr.
Recently, following his appointment, Ombudsman Boying Remulla spoke on the flood control issue. Based on a post of Luzon News Media, during an interview, the chief graft-buster claimed that the concern is the building of the case.
“Ang concern natin diyan ‘yung building the case, eh. Hindi sino pero, ‘Anong kaso? Anong ebidensya?’ Everybody comes in there kaya wala ho tayong sinisino rito. Kung mataas man o mababa, pero sisiguraduhin natin ‘yung ebidensya nakatuon pag-file natin ng kaso,” he said.
Furthermore, Ombudsman Remulla was asked in case the ones involved are relatives of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. During the interview, he claimed that he will not spare anyone even the relatives of the Chief Executive.
“Wala naman tayong choice dito, ‘yun ang ebidensya. Pwede ba nating i-deny ang ebidensya? Kung merong ebidensya. ‘Yun talaga ang hamon sa atin dito, to produce the evidence,” the Ombudsman expressed.
Remulla said he will do crowdsourcing and he will find a way to get to the people that could help in fast-tracking the legal process. He believes that they can get information from the people to secure the convictions of those who are accountable in the flood control issue. Recently, Ombudsman Remulla also announced that he will lift the restrictions on the access of the SALN or the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of the government officials.