PBBM: Flood control evidence to be referred to Ombudsman for probe

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. (Bongbong Marcos/facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced Friday that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will turn over to the Office of the Ombudsman all evidence on alleged flood control anomalies.

In a video message, Marcos said the ICI and the DPWH would submit findings allegedly implicating former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

“Kagaya ng aking nasabi noong nakaraang report ko, ay patuloy ang pagrereport ko sa taong bayan tungkol sa mga kaso at saka sa mga impormasyon na nakukuha natin tungkol sa mga flood control project na hindi maganda (As I mentioned in my previous report, I will continue reporting to the public about the cases and the information we are obtaining regarding flood control projects that are not being properly implemented),” he said.

“At kaya ngayon, ay nais kong ipaalam sa ating mga kababayan na ang ICI at saka ang DPWH ay lahat ng nakuha nila na impormasyon, ay irerefer, ibibigay na sa Ombudsman para imbestigahan ng Ombudsman (And so today, I would like to inform our fellow citizens that all the information gathered by the ICI and the DPWH will be referred and submitted to the Ombudsman for investigation),” Marcos added.

Marcos said plunder, anti-graft, and indirect bribery charges may be filed against Romualdez and Co in connection with the flood control mess, if evidence establishes their involvement.

“‘Pag nakita lahat ng ebidensya, baka magfile ng kaso ng plunder o anti-graft o indirect bribery (Once all the evidence is seen, cases of plunder, anti-graft, or indirect bribery may possibly be filed),” he said.

Marcos expressed confidence that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla will be impartial in handling the case.

“Malakas naman ang loob natin na ‘yung Ombudsman ang ginagawa lamang ay sumusunod sa ebidensya, at kung saan tayo dinadala ng ebidensya, doon pupunta ang ating imbestigasyon (We are confident that the Ombudsman simply follows the evidence, and wherever the evidence leads us, that is where our investigation will go),” he said.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against Co and several officials of the DPWH and Sunwest Corp. in connection with a PHP289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he is also looking into the names mentioned by Co in the video statements he released on his official Facebook page.

Meanwhile, Romualdez said his conscience remains clear and expressed trust in the Ombudsman’s “impartial review.”

“I willingly submitted myself to the ICI’s fact-finding process, appeared voluntarily, and remained in the country. Throughout all these proceedings, no sworn or credible evidence has ever linked me to any irregularity, and again, my conscience remains clear,” he said in a statement.

“It’s now with the Ombudsman. I trust in the Ombudsman’s impartial and thorough review and evaluation. I do so with confidence that a fair and complete assessment of the record will reflect the truth.”