MANILA, Philippines — Around 30 cases involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are now under preliminary investigation as the government prepares to file charges in relation to anomalies in flood control projects.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla made the announcement in his speech at the Ease of Doing Business Convention yesterday.
“The DPWH is a problem in itself right now and we are getting all the information, we’re processing the data and we’re filing the cases,” he said.
“Around 30 cases are under preliminary investigation already. And we expect more to come,” he said.
Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman is well-prepared to handle cases and can hire people, if necessary.
“The Office of Ombudsman has 1,400 people right now. But our criteria allows us to have 2,000 people. And if we have to hire 600 more to finish all these cases, we will,” he said.
When it comes to addressing corruption, he said action is also needed on agencies handling government revenue such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs.
“Everybody knows they’re corrupt, but nobody has done anything about it,” he said.
At the same event, the Office of the Ombudsman signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to curb corruption and red tape.
Under the MOA, the ARTA will assist the Office of the Ombudsman in the investigation of alleged red-tape related infractions and corruption by public officials and public servants.
The aim is to have expeditious and efficient resolution of cases.
Remulla said the partnership enables the parties to share critical data to trace the patterns and symptoms of bureaucratic abuse.
He also said the partnership is a vital initiative in the fight for better public service.
“Corruption and red tape are not separate things. They feed each other. When a process drags, when the signature is held hostage, when public service becomes a maze, the temptation for shortcuts and waste money thrives,” he said.
Gross negligence rap eyed vs Romualdez
Also yesterday at a press conference, Remulla said he is looking into the possible liability of former speaker Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez for gross inexcusable negligence over the appointment of congressman Zaldy Co as chairman of the House appropriations committee.
Remulla said that as speaker, Romualdez was “responsible” for the appointment of Co, now accused of receiving up to 25 percent in kickbacks from allocations for flood control projects he allegedly inserted in the 2025 national budget.
“Although Zaldy Co was elected on the floor, everybody knows that it was the speaker’s choice. That’s why we have to hold him accountable for that,” he said.
While Romualdez was not a part of the bicameral conference committee that reconciled the House and Senate versions of the national budget, Remulla said the former speaker cannot be blameless over Co’s actions.
“We have to tread that path already, that nothing is inexcusable here. At the least, negligence should be charged against those who are responsible for their offices. Leadership principle yan, the buck stops with you,” he added.
Remulla said in cases involving Co, a pattern was revealed, that it was Co who worked with some senators in crafting the final version of the national budget.
He said the possibility of Romualdez’s liability is a “novel theory” but it has to be explored because “the whole government machinery and the Filipino people suffered damages due to the acts of Zaldy Co.”
He said his office is looking at all the testimonies that have come out in the investigations on the flood control scandal, saying all these would be used in establishing the theory of gross inexcusable negligence. “Nobody can be completely blameless for that,” the ombudsman said.
Romualdez resigned as speaker in September amid the probe on alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
He described his being implicated in the scandal an “outright and complete fabrication.”
Senate witness Orly Guteza, who identified himself as a former security consultant for Co, had said that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Co and Romualdez.
Probe on Villars?
Remulla also said his office would form a separate task force to investigate flood control projects allegedly linked to the Villar family, including the Las Piñas-Bacoor River Drive.
“They’re the landowners also that benefitted from that. We’re forming a new task force for that, just for Villar itself,” he said.
He noted that improvements were made in Zapote river drive in Las Piñas, as well as in Bacoor in Cavite, which are in areas allegedly owned by the Villars.
Remulla said the multibillion-peso project is around 11 kilometers long flanked by Villar properties.
He said the new task force will not only investigate the flood control projects in Las Piñas and Cavite but also all other infrastructure contracts allegedly linked to the Villar family.
When he was justice secretary, Remulla said the department was investigating the Villars for their alleged ties to a contractor, who appears to be a close family member.
Remulla also said his office found a money trail linking Sen. Francis Escudero to the flood control scandal.
“We have statements of money trailing to him. Narrations of facts that are there already. But of course we want to buttress it with other evidence,” he said.
He noted that the Senate was then led by Escudero when insertions and “diversions of money” appeared in the national budget.
Former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo earlier said he delivered 20 percent of approximately P800 million to a certain Maynard Ngu, “which was meant for Senator Escudero.”
Remulla said a court case would be filed on Nov. 11 against those behind the anomalous flood control projects and those who benefited from them.