Amid the Flood Control Probe, Ombudsman Remulla Confirmed 1st Batch of Raps To Be Filed on November 25
Ombudsman Boying Remulla revealed that up to 15 government officials may be charged in the first batch of flood control cases.
Currently, the flood control investigation is ongoing in the Philippines. It is led by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the three-member body formed upon the order of President Bongbong Marcos amid the supposed multi-billion corruption in the Philippine government.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure or more popularly called ICI recently held an inter-agency meeting to ensure the return of the loots from the culprits of the flood control issue. The commission had a meeting with the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the DPWH, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Ombudsman, among others.
“We know that every peso na ninakaw ay pisong nawala sa ating bansa at mahalaga po na mag sama-sama kami dito at magtulungan para maibalik ang pera na pagmamayari ng taumbayan,” ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said.
Reyes is a former Supreme Court Justice. Previously Malacañang reiterated several times that Marcos Jr. will not intervene in the flood control investigation. However, amid the issue and the ongoing probe, there are doubts on the legitimacy of the ICI.
Following his appointment, Ombudsman Boying Remulla vowed to speed up the legal process to resolve the flood control issue in the Philippines. Recently, the country’s chief graft-buster revealed that the first batch of the flood control charges will be filed on November 25.
According to Remulla, the cases will be filed by the Office of the Ombudsman and his previous office, the Department of Justice. Based on a report on PhilStar, he revealed the investigation of the DOJ found that one higher official of the DPWH in Bulacan is “indictable” at the Sandiganbayan.
“We would rather that we file the case [first] then we name the official,” Remulla said.
Based on the report, when asked about the number of public officials who may be charged by the flood control raps that will be filed at the Sandiganbayan on November 15, Ombudsman Boying Remulla said up to 15 people may face cases.
“For public officials, including the district officers, about 14 to 15 people,” the Ombudsman said.
However, the country’s chief graft-buster refused to categorically answer if there would be senators who will be facing charges in the first batch of cases that will be filed. Previously, ICI chairman Andres Reyes vowed that ‘justice will not be delayed this time’.
