Prosecutor-General Richard Fadullon said the government’s investigations into anomalous flood control projects may take longer to resolve.
At a press conference in Quezon City, he admitted that the public had expected a December deadline, stemming from past “promises.”
“The department cannot be cowed by statements calling for rushed timelines simply because those statements were made. We still have to go through the process,” Fadullon said, speaking in mixed Filipino and English.
He added that government investigations will not rely solely on word-of-mouth testimonies from individuals, including those presented during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
“You need to conduct further investigation that cannot rely only on statements from two individuals. It’s not necessarily that you simply file a case right away,” Fadullon explained, stressing that due process must be observed.
Although he assured that investigations are continuing, the Prosecutor-General said the public may need to wait longer due to difficulties encountered by investigators.
“Everyone wants to see immediate results. But I will just say, before it gets better, it gets worse. You really have to put in a lot of time,” Fadullon said as he appealed for patience.
“It is easy to file a case. The most difficult part is how to prove the cases that we file,” he added.
Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla meanwhile appealed for fairness and respect for due process as her husband, former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., faced another detention over a malversation case linked to the flood control controversy.
“The cases involving my husband, former Senator Bong Revilla Jr., are now under judicial review. As his wife and a public servant myself, I ask for understanding, fairness, and respect for due process,” Mercado-Revilla said in a social media post.
“Our family continues to draw strength from our faith and we remain hopeful for a fair and just resolution,” she added.
Mercado-Revilla was among those who accompanied her husband when he surrendered to police following an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan. She was also with the former senator when he appeared before the anti-graft court to post bail for the graft case. Revilla is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Barangay Payatas.
For his part, Revilla’s son, Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla, said the family was going through a “difficult moment” as he appealed to the public and the media “to allow the justice system to work—without pressure, noise, or premature conclusions.”
“As a legislator, I recognize the importance of accountability and the integrity of due process. In this light, we respectfully call for fairness—fair treatment under the law, fair judgment based on evidence, and fairness in public discourse that refrains from trial by publicity,” he said.
The younger Revilla said his father would confront his case in court, expressing faith in the country’s legal institutions.
“The proper place to resolve these issues is inside the courtroom, where facts matter and the law speaks louder than speculation,” he said.
