Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that two brothers in Congress offered him and his brother, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, P1 billion to avoid being implicated in the administration’s investigation into irregular flood control projects.
Remulla first disclosed the alleged bribery attempt in an interview on Politiko Talks aired on the Bilyonaryo News Channel.
In a message to Politiko, Remulla confirmed the alleged offer came from siblings and was coursed through intermediaries. “Two brothers tried to bribe two brothers. The amount was P1 billion,” he said. He added that the offer was made through a mutual acquaintance, with the proposal framed as a request for help, saying they were willing to give as much as P1 billion.
The interior secretary explained that he chose not to pursue an entrapment operation against the alleged “cong-tractors.” “Entrapment would have complicated the case of the accused and even delayed everything. All I said was, ‘tell them we’ll see each other in court,’” Remulla said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said allocables associated with commissions and kickbacks are akin to premeditated robbery.
“If you submit a ‘wish list’ or allocables, even without assurance it will be included in the final version of the General Appropriations Act, and your motive is to collect commissions, then it may be likened to attempted, or at the very least, planned robbery,” Lacson said, stressing the need for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to examine documents left by the late Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.
Lacson said that while it is acceptable for lawmakers to seek funding for well-researched projects in line with their duties to constituents, such requests should not be made while the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is still being drafted.
He emphasized that his amendments to the budget bill were based on properly evaluated requests from agencies or on realignments done pursuant to his oversight functions.
“For a congressman or senator to dip fingers into the NEP with the intention of getting commissions from allocables can be likened to attempted robbery,” he said, adding that legislators have no role in listing projects in the NEP and may only introduce amendments once it is submitted to Congress.
The so-called “Cabral files” are among the documents the Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Lacson, expects to tackle in its hearing on Monday, Jan. 19.
Lacson said he will ask DPWH representatives to authenticate the supposed Cabral documents in his possession and those held by others. If the DPWH fails to authenticate them, he said, they will not form part of the committee’s records.
“I will apply fairness—any document the DPWH does not authenticate, including those in my possession, will not be made part of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s records,” he said.
Lacson added that the expected absence of former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan at the Jan. 19 hearing will not stall the investigation, but may hurt Bonoan’s case.
“It’s on him because he has to explain the submission of false grid-coordinate data to Malacañang. At Monday’s hearing, DPWH resource persons will testify, so it’s up to him to present his side,” Lacson said.
He also said the committee will ask the Department of Justice to confirm whether it approved Bonoan’s request to extend his stay in California due to the postponement of his wife’s eye operation to Feb. 15.
Lacson earlier said he may consult Senate President Vicente Sotto III and other members on allowing Bonoan to attend via videoconference, if necessary, but insisted that Bonoan must be within the grounds of a Philippine embassy or consulate so an oath can be administered.
The committee has also invited former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo to shed light on an alleged attempt by former police chief Nicolas Torre III to take him into custody. Torre is not invited but is welcome to attend and present his side, Lacson said.
