Ombudsman: 39 flood control cases filed, more under probe

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that the government has officially filed 39 court cases related to the massive flood control scandal.

During his first annual report delivered at the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday, October 12. Remulla said that 35 flood control cases have been filed in the Sandiganbayan, while 4 are being prosecuted in the Regional Trial Courts.

“Many more are under preliminary investigation and lifestyle checks,” Remulla said.

According to Remulla, these cases involve 52 individuals now facing charges. The high-profile list of respondents includes:

• One sitting senator
• One former senator
• Four congressmen, including a former House Speaker
• One former secretary and 33 employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
• Eight contractors and other private individuals

Addressing the public, Remulla explained that the filing of these 39 cases was the result of a rigorous, three-step process with "no shortcuts and no exemptions". 

The anti-graft office first gathered evidence— including contracts, audit reports, and physical site inspections— before presenting the findings to the respondents to hear their side, and finally filing charges once the evidence was deemed airtight.

“Our cases are not decided by trending topics, hashtags, or the loudest comment section,” Remulla said.

The Ombudsman then urged the public not to be misled or used by paid online operations, advising the public to seek the truth not in comment sections, but by examining court documents, filed charges, and presented evidence.

“May mga taong nagbabayad para sa comments, para sa reactions, para sa mga fake accounts, para pagmukhaing boses ng taumbayan ang isang kasinungalingan,” Remulla said. 

(There are people who pay for comments, for reactions, for fake accounts, just to make a lie look like the voice of the people.)

“Kaya sa ating mga kababayan: huwag tayong magpagamit,” he added.

(So to our fellow countrymen: let us not allow ourselves to be used.)