Just a day after former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co’s case landed in the Sandiganbayan, the Office of the Ombudsman wasted no time digging deeper into the flood control corruption scandal.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he was satisfied with the pace of the first case filed, making it clear that this was only the beginning.

As to what comes next, Remulla said his team is already reviewing the names Co mentioned in the video statements he posted on Facebook. Even without a sworn affidavit from Co, he said the Ombudsman has already begun looking into these names motu proprio — a process triggered, he said, “once the alarm bell goes off.”

“When it enters a preliminary investigation, that’s when sworn statements become necessary. You have to swear by the truth of what you say,” Remulla explained.

He also addressed allegations implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., calling the claims “illogical” since the national budget is prepared by the President’s office before Congress even deliberates on it.

“It’s the President’s budget. Why would you do something like that?” he said.

Three undersecretaries, however, are firmly on the Ombudsman’s radar: former DepEd Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and Palace Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin. They are being investigated for allegedly conspiring in money laundering and could face plunder charges.

“They had no right to that money. It was meant for public works, for the contractors who actually did the work,” Remulla stressed.

He also addressed questions surrounding former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who resigned “out of delicadeza.” Remulla said investigators will review the DBM’s books to determine whether any wrongdoing took place.

“We have to understand the process first before attributing responsibility,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday raffled off the cases linked to Co, DPWH Region IV-B officials, and Sunwest Corporation involving the alleged anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

The Seventh Division, chaired by Justice Lorifel Lacap Pahimna, will handle Co’s graft case. Other graft cases will go to the Fifth Division, while the malversation charge will fall to the Sixth Division.

As the proceedings move forward, Remulla brushed aside Co’s claims of receiving death threats and fearing for his life if he returns to the Philippines.

“Kalokohan ‘yun (That’s a joke). He can buy the best security,” he said, adding that the government can guarantee Co’s safety. “The President has not espoused any form of violence. He has espoused human rights.”

Remulla also revealed that three of nine cases involving contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya have been submitted for resolution — and could be the next set of charges to be filed as early as next week.