Ombudsman expects Sandiganbayan to handle flood control cases by November

The Office of the Ombudsman expects the Sandiganbayan to be busy in the coming months as the first batch of flood control cases reaches the anti-graft court.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the cases involving five “ghost” projects in Bulacan came from the Department of Justice (DOJ). He noted that three of these cases involve higher-ranking officials at salary grade 27 and above, although the names of the officials will only be revealed once the cases are formally filed.

A case from the Ombudsman also involves Sunwest Construction, linked to former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co. This is part of the Mindoro Oriental flood case submitted to the agency by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

According to Remulla, the office expects these cases to reach the Sandiganbayan by 25 November or earlier.

The Ombudsman said the office is considering filing charges other than plunder, which are easier to prove, such as malversation, bribery, falsification, and other corruption-related offenses.

“Plunder is overrated. Through all these years, I think there’s only one conviction of plunder. That’s why we are looking at other crimes that are easier to prove,” Remulla explained.

Meanwhile, 13 flood control complaints are already under preliminary investigation, including cases involving Discayas, Waowao Builders, and Syms Construction.

“All of the construction companies, we will make the board of directors liable also. That’s why there will be more respondents here,” he said.

Remulla added that the office is studying livestreaming the preliminary investigations on flood control projects. Additionally, decisions on cases handled by former Ombudsman Joel Villanueva will be posted online.

“Because these are supposed to be public in nature, all pre-proceedings are supposed to be public except in cases where the rights of children may be violated. We are looking at the bounds of transparency that we can adhere to in this office,” Remulla said.