Metro Manila, Philippines – Ombudsman Boying Remulla said his office would refrain from giving specific timelines for the ongoing flood control investigation, amid public skepticism over the government’s promise to jail the “big fishes” in the multibillion-peso corruption scam.
“I don’t want to mention any more names muna [for now]. Let’s just lay off the names. Kasi [Because] it’s misinterpreted and some people want to push the issue more and try to put a date. I won’t do that. Tapos na tayo roon [We’re done with that]. I think we’ve learned a lesson from that. We cannot give any dates and any commitment about anything,” said Remulla, in a press briefing on Thursday, Jan. 8, when asked about the updates on the preliminary investigation.
Remulla had vowed to jail big personalities in the flood control scam before the end of last year.
So far, only a number of contractors – including controversial Sarah Discaya – and personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways, have been detained, for graft and malversation charges from anomalous flood control projects.
Fugitive and former AKO BICOL party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, the alleged mastermind of the scam, remains at large.
Remulla also said he is unaware of the supposed filing of charges against senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, and former Sen. Bong Revilla on Jan. 15, as previously mentioned by Sen. Imee Marcos.
“Buti siya alam niya, ako di ko alam ‘yun…ewan ko saan nanggagaling ‘yun,” he said.
[Translation: Good for her if she knows, because I don’t. I have no idea where that’s coming from.]
The ombudsman said the Department of Justice’s preliminary investigation into the cases of Villanueva, Estrada, and Revilla is ongoing, adding that the probe for the case of one more senator may soon begin.
“Things are moving. We are hiring people…the work is continuing on a daily basis and we intend to keep it that way for the next seven years,” said Remulla.
The former justice secretary was appointed as Ombudsman in October 2025.
