Ombudsman ready to submit VP Sara’s SALN to House panel

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla (Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Monday said his office is ready to provide a copy of the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Remulla made this remark after the House of Representatives’ justice committee subpoenaed the Vice President’s SALN for the impeachment hearing.

“Meron pong subpoena sa amin ang House tungkol sa SALN at ito ay tinanggap namin at ibibigay namin ang SALN ni VP Sara (The House sent us a subpoena about SALN and we received it and will give the SALN of Vice Sara),” Remulla said in a press conference.

He said he will send the SALN custodian to personally bring Duterte’s SALN to the House of Representatives, where the Vice President is facing two impeachment complaints.

In the two impeachment complaints, Duterte was accused of committing betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Remulla said he will cite House of Representatives Secretary General Cheloy Garafil in contempt for refusing to receive the subpoena he issued for the SALNs of House Deputy Secretary General Sofronio Gabonada and lawmakers linked to anomalous flood control projects.

He said the request for SALNs is crucial in the filing of plunder charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“At di kami papayag na balewalain nila ang Office of the Ombudsman (And we will not allow the Office of the Ombudsman to be ignored),” Remulla said.

“In the same light, I’d like to say we have been seriously preparing a case of plunder against former speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senate president Chiz Escudero. Plunder ang aming hinahandang kaso laban sa kanila (We are preparing plunder against them) with the element of conspiracy,” he added.

Remulla said the plunder charges also involve other lawmakers and will focus on how the two houses of Congress passed the national budget.

“Sila yan, pero marami pang iba. Marami pang ibang miyembro ng dalawang bahay na maaring tamaan din ng kasong plunder na aming inihahana ngayon. (It’s them, but there are many others. Many other members of the two houses could also be affected by the plunder case we are investigating today,” Remulla said.

Remulla said the case is “flood control related in so many ways” and will be filed in May.

In response, Romualdez’s lawyer and spokesperson Ade Fajardo said their camp has taken note of reports regarding the alleged preparation of a complaint involving the former Speaker.

“To be clear, this refers only to a reported preparation of a complaint—there is no filed case, no finding of probable cause, and no determination of liability at this time,” Fajardo said in a statement sent to media.

Fajardo said they respect the Office of the Ombudsman’s processes and will fully cooperate “if and when a formal proceeding is initiated.”

He added that they trust Remulla to fully adhere to the circular that he instituted and signed as then Secretary of the Department of Justice, “that DOJ prosecutors should only pursue cases with reasonable certainty of conviction.”

“We want to emphasize that, to-date, there is no evidence linking Rep. Romualdez to any ghost and substandard projects pertaining to the flood control issue. We remain confident that these matters will be resolved based on evidence and due process – not politics or speculation,” he said.