Statement of Ombudsman Boying Remulla on 1st Batch of Flood Control Raps
Ombudsman Boying Remulla spoke on the government officials who may face charges due to flood control issue.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is currently doing an investigation on the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption. The issue brought thousands of Filipinos to the streets to protest against corruption through the rally dubbed as the “Trillion Peso March”. Countless people were left disappointed by the supposed massive corruption in the Philippine government.
Not only some officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are accused of involvement in the flood control issue but as well as some senators and congressmen. In fact, both the Senate and the House of Representatives had a change of leadership amid the issue. Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House speaker amid the corruption allegation against him.
Resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co allegedly pocketed P21 billion through the flood control projects as per the findings of the ICI. Co was already out of the country when the accusation against him broke it.
Despite the revocation of his Travel Clearance and the order for him to return to the Philippines and face the accusations against him, Co did not heed the call. Instead, he resigned from being the representative of Ako Bicol Partylist which stands by him amid the allegations.
In the Senate, senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, and Chiz Escudero are accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects. Recently, Ombudsman Boying Remulla revealed that the first batch of the flood control charges will be filed on November 25, 2025.
Based on a report on PhilStar, the charges will be filed by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ). According to Ombudsman Boying Remulla, the ongoing DOJ investigation on the flood control projects in Bulacan showed that there is one higher official who is allegedly “indictable” at the Sandiganbayan but he refused to name the official.
“We would rather that we file the case [first] then we name the official,” the Ombudsman said.
Based on the report, when asked about the number of government officials who might be faced with charges after they would file the first batch of flood control raps next month, Ombudsman Boying Remulla said there might be 14 to 15 public officials including district officers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“For public officials, including the district officers, about 14 to 15 people,” he said.
However, when asked if there are senators who will be charged by the flood control cases that are set to be filed next month, the Ombudsman refused to categorically answer the question. Meanwhile, he assured that the charges that will be filed are strong enough to stand trial.
Previously, amid the alleged “slow” response of the government on the flood control issue, Pres. Bongbong Marcos stressed that it would be a much worse result if the flood control culprits get acquitted because the charges filed against them were weak. He also stressed that “due process” is being followed.