Remulla: Flood control cases won’t spare anyone, ‘high or low’
Newly-appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will file graft charges before the Sandiganbayan “in the next few weeks” against those behind anomalous flood control projects.
“That’s for sure. Just like the flood control project, that is an open and shut case. That’s not rocket science. We really can hold those involved liable,” Remulla said in a television interview.
“We have already gathered many pieces of evidence. We will really do our best to build up (the cases) because we do not want to be the cause of delay,” he added.
He said filing of cases will be based on the evidence and will not be personality-based.
“Within the next few weeks when we have filed (the cases), we would then be ready for trial so it would (start with a) preliminary investigation but that would continue to go on,” Remulla said.
“It is not about who but what the case is all about, what evidence would there be…We will not look at personalities if they have high (positions) or low,” he said.
“We will ensure that we are focused on evidence even if one is a senator….We have no choice here. That’s the evidence. Can we deny the evidence? That’s the challenge to us here, to produce the evidence,” Remulla said.
He said his office will also look into the alleged corruption involving Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. which broke out during the Duterte administration.
“We’ll take a look at that because it seems like it’s been forgotten, buried in oblivion,” he said.
“But these kinds of cases shouldn’t really be forgotten because we know the allegations have weight, and many are saying that something bad happened there,” he added.
Remulla formally took his oath of office yesterday in a ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Manila.
SC Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen administered Remulla’s oath in the presence of his wife and Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr.
Remulla succeeded retired Ombudsman Samuel Martires, whose term ended in July.
In a previous interview, Remulla said should he be appointed Ombudsman, he would allow access to government officials’ statements of assets and liabilities (SALN) as long as it will not be used to harass them.
“We can provide the SALN as long as there are proper safeguards,” he said.
As for proposals to expand lifestyle checks on government workers, Remulla said he will be “guided by public sentiment.”
“I think that we can rely on the people of the Philippines to help government in advocating, in enforcing a lifestyle check,” he said.
