Waiting for the ombudsman

When former DOJ secretary Crispin “Boying” Remulla was appointed ombudsman last Oct. 7, many of us felt something rare in Philippine politics… hope.

Yes, he comes from a political dynasty. But he is also widely regarded as intelligent, legally astute and deeply aware of how better-governed nations operate. He understands the defects in our institutions. He understands the political system. He understands the psyche of Filipino politicians. More importantly, he knows the scale of corruption and the damage it has wrought on national development and on the daily lives of Filipinos.

It was even said that because of health concerns, Remulla approached his new position with spiritual urgency – determined to leave a legacy. That urgency is fitting since the ombudsman is not merely a prosecutor, he is the constitutional conscience of government. The position exists precisely to confront power when power is abused.

Remulla did the media rounds in late November and early December. He was calm, firm and confident. He assured the public that the “big fish” in the flood control scandal would be held to account by Dec. 15.

We believed him. We had no reason not to. Dec. 15 came and went. Nothing happened. Jan. 15 came and went. Nothing happened. Feb. 15 came and went. Still, no big fish. Now, five months into his tenure and we are still waiting for his promise to be fulfilled. Updates on prosecutions have even become few and far between.

We do not count ex-senator Bong Revilla as a litigation triumph. He surrendered voluntarily. That is not the state asserting dominance. It is a powerful politician choosing the timing of his compliance.

Yes, a case was filed against Zaldy Co. But there has been no visible progress toward his arrest. Reports place him abroad, reportedly moving and securing his assets. A case was filed against Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Yet he remains free.

So whatever happened to the ombudsman’s promise? We should all be worried because the longer the “big fish” remain free, the more the system tilts to their favor. Time becomes their ally – allowing them to move and conceal their wealth, erase financial trails, assemble formidable legal defenses and quietly pressure or intimidate whistleblowers. Documents can disappear, stories can be revised and evidence can grow cold. In corruption cases, delay is oxygen for criminals – it gives them exactly what they need to outlast accountability.

Who are these big fish?

In the Senate, sworn statements submitted to investigators name Senators Joel Villanueva, Francis Escudero, Nancy Binay and Bong Go in connection with the alleged scheme.

In the House, the controversy moves even closer to Malacañang. Investigative reporting by the PCIJ shows that Sandro Marcos and Martin Romualdez received the largest shares of “allocable funds” in successive national budgets. Romualdez’s name also surfaced in a contractor’s testimony.

Contractors also mentioned Congressman Arjo Atayde in testimonies describing alleged payoff arrangements tied to infrastructure projects. Brothers Eric and Edvic Yap are also under scrutiny for their endorsement and assessment of flood-control projects later flagged for irregularities.

Sworn statements describing alleged kickback arrangements have also cited Congressmen Jojo Ang, Patrick Michael Vargas, Nikki Briones, Marcy Teodoro, Florida Robes, Eleandro Madrona, Benjie Agarao, Bem Noel, Leody Tarriela and Mitch Cajayon-Uy.

And what of institutional accountability? Manuel Bonoan presided over the DPWH during the period when the systemic flood-control heists took place.

Yes, investigations take time. Yes, due process matters. Yes, cases must be airtight. But urgency matters too! As weeks stretch into months without visible movement, public confidence erodes towards the ombudsman, the Marcos administration and, by extension, the state itself.

With the long delays, the public cannot be blamed for asking biting questions. Is the ombudsman driving us all to fatigue so our anger turns to apathy? Is his slow pace prudence, reluctance or intentional delay? Is he protecting the powerful? Is he shielding his political patrons, the Marcos and Romualdez clans?

Silence from the ombudsman feeds speculation. Delay breeds doubt.

History teaches us that delay benefits the powerful. The public grows weary. One scandal is replaced by another. Meanwhile, the guilty go scot free and live to plunder another day. And as always, the Filipino people pay the price.

Why it matters

In a country where corruption is so ingrained in the political culture and impunity grows more brazen every year, the ombudsman stands as the last institutional defense between the nation and the ruin wrought by the greed of its own leaders.

When the ombudsman acts decisively, it sends a signal that no surname, no alliance, no proximity to Malacañang is stronger than the law. When he hesitates, it sends the opposite message – that accountability only applies to the small fry.

What the ombudsman does today will determine how the government will behave in decades to come. If the powerful are prosecuted when evidence warrants it, future officials will think twice before treating public funds as political currency. If the powerful are shielded – whether through delay, collusion or selective action – then the lesson absorbed by the next generation is that power can bend the system. With this, the country will forever be trapped in inequality and underdevelopment.

But the lessons do not stop with politicians. The youth are watching. Future civil servants are watching. Law students are watching.

This moment is larger than the scandal itself. It is about whether the ombudsman will correct a culture long warped by patronage and political expediency – or simply allow it to continue.

Ombudsman Remulla has spoken of legacy. Legacy is forged in difficult decisions – especially when those decisions collide with political allies.

Will he protect his patrons? Or will he prosecute the guilty and force a course correction in government ethics?

The public has not forgotten and we are watching.

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E-mail: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan