Case buildup continues vs senators in infra mess
Acting on the recommendations of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the Office of the Ombudsman is conducting a “buildup” of cases against former and incumbent senators implicated in the controversy over flood control projects, adding that arrest warrants may be issued next week or by Christmas.
In an interview on Monday with Karen Davila, host of ANC’s “Headstart,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the investigation into these officials was prompted by “the gravity of the allegations.”
Discussed in the interview were Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Mark Villar as well as former Senators Nancy Binay, Grace Poe and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Remulla, however, declined to elaborate on the charges being prepared against them.
“Every day we are receiving information, and I cannot speak about details because it would prejudice our case,” he said.
Cabinet reshuffle
The ICI’s recommendations were based on affidavits and testimonies against the said lawmakers by former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo when he testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee on Sept. 25 and Nov. 14.
The commission cited potential violations including plunder, direct or indirect bribery, corruption of public officials, and administrative offenses.
Also named by Bernardo, but not Remulla, was former Sen. and current Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who said on Nov. 14 that “We reject any insinuation … that we were involved in anomalous projects.”
Following a Cabinet reshuffle on Nov. 17, which led to the replacement of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Malacañang said the next day there was no need for Angara to resign “if he thinks he’s clean.”
Bernardo had also implicated Bersamin in the flood works mess, while resigned lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co had claimed that Pangandaman intervened for the insertion of P100 billion in the 2025 budget.
‘Preliminary work’
The other implicated senators have also denied the allegations against them. Binay, now the mayor of Makati City, said she had no involvement in flood control projects and no Senate staff capable of handling the alleged schemes, while Villar described the allegations against him as “baseless and unsupported by any evidence.” Poe said she has never been involved in corruption.
Regarding Escudero, Remulla said, “We are doing the case buildup, we’re doing preliminary work, we are doing everything that needs to be done. So I’d rather stop there regarding his case.”
The Ombudsman also said that his office has received evidence against Villar in connection with his stint as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and as a lawmaker.
Villar served two terms as representative of Las Piñas City beginning 2010 before Duterte appointed him to lead the DPWH in 2016. He was elected senator in 2022.
Remulla said the evidence against Binay was still undergoing “evaluation and case buildup.”
Revilla’s case, in particular, is a “low-hanging fruit,” he said, adding that the allegations against the former senator have been under investigation for some time.
‘A lot of cases’
In November, the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation cases before the Sandiganbayn against Co and several others over a P289.5‑million flood works project in Oriental Mindoro province.
Then last week, the antigraft body filed malversation and graft charges before the regional trial court of Digos City against contractor Sarah Discaya and several others over a P96.5-million “ghost project” in Davao Occidental province.
Remulla said around eight teams are already working on the cases, with more expected to be organized in the coming year.
His office will also hire 100 new lawyers, the Ombudsman said.
“I think we will have a lot of cases by May. That’s why we’re hiring around 30 lawyers in January, and we will be hiring 70 by the end of March hopefully,” Remulla said, adding the new lawyers should have at least two to three years’ experience.
“What’s important is they have the energy and idealism,” he said.
Remulla also said his actions as head of the antigraft body were not influenced by any political agenda.
“I have no agenda. I’ll be 71 by the time I finish this term, and I have to skip an election at least,” he told ANC. “This is already the culmination of the good legal career that I’ve had all my life.”
