Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Saturday said their office is validating the Senate blue ribbon committee partial report on flood control projects and they are preparing the draft complaints.
“Meron kasi kaming ongoing na investigations sa flood control. Ang estimate ko sa investigations namin, from 35 to 45 investigations na current. Ongoing ‘yan,” Remulla said during the Executive Session radio program on dzRH.
“Siyempre, tinaas natin ang standard; hindi natin wine-weaponize ang office. So we’re trying to cull in, we bring in the evidence needed to charge people kung kinakailangan. Case buildup talaga,” he said.
“So itong report ng Senate is very useful to us kasi nga it will really help us, it will supplement our efforts in investigating those who profited and took part, you know, lahat ng ginawa sa flood control, ‘yung mga talagang nagkasala,” Remulla added.
The Ombudsman said the report came with transcripts of the sworn statements given during Senate hearings, which they are validating.
“Alam mo itong office na ito on the side talaga nito is really to ferret out the facts, kaya meron kaming fact finding. ‘Yung fact finding namin, ‘yung FIO, ‘yun talaga ‘yung the most important phase kasi diyan malalaman kung kinakailangang gumalaw pa ‘yung kaso paakyat,” he said.
“Marami kaming nahihinog ah. Pero marami sa kaniya mga probably… Kasi may focus tayo sa first priority, second priority. Pero by September, marami tayong ifa-file pa tungkol sa flood control tsaka ‘yung mga conflict of interest cases,” Remulla said.
“Kasi ngayon namo-monitor na natin ‘yan kasi ‘pag nag-i-issue ng subpoena, I have to sign it. Not anybody else. Centralized sa akin. Sa akin lang ang subpoena. Basta ako aakuhin ko lahat ng subpoena na ‘yan. Kasi nawe-weaponize,” he added.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, ako na aako niyan para walang masabi sa opisina natin na meron tayong ginagatasan diyan. Hindi puwede sa ‘tin ‘yan,” he stated.
Remulla added that their investigation also includes members of the small committees of the House and Senate who are responsible for finalizing the national budget which is to be submitted to the president.
Among those being investigated are Representatives Stella Quimbo, Mannix Dalipe, Marcelino Libanan.
Remulla said the first complaint they are drafting is 61 pages long.
“Ang first draft namin, 61 pages. ‘Yung complaint. Dadami pa ‘yan kasi we’re still getting the evidence,” he said.
“We’re working on the second draft complaint already, sa conspiracy for plunder. Ginagawa na namin ‘yan,” he said, adding that this is heftier than the first complaint. “Everybody involved. May details. House and Senate. Congressmen and senators.”
“‘Yung second money laundering case vs. Martin Romualdez is being prepared,” he added.
“It’s about time that as a country, we face reality na kinakailangang ayusin natin ang sistema… Sagutin lang (ang paratang) para ‘wag nang tularan,” he said. —KG, GMA News