Metro Manila, Philippines – Flood control-related complaints in the fact-finding stage have nearly doubled this year, Ombudsman Boying Remulla said, while four cases were filed in court almost a year since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a probe on the multibillion-peso corruption scam.
In his recorded message aired at the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum on Tuesday, June 16, Remulla said a total of 209 complaints are under fact-finding, a stage where investigators examine if there is enough basis to file a formal case. It is higher than the 124 complaints that reached the fact-finding stage in 2025.
Remulla said 36 complaints advanced to preliminary investigation last year, while four cases were filed with the court.
The high-profile cases include the non-bailable plunder charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Sen. Bong Revilla, both in detention pending trial.
Remulla, who assumed the position in October 2025, told fellow ombudsmen from Southeast Asian countries the importance of their responsibility in the infrastructure scandal probe.
“Beyond these numbers is a deeper responsibility — to strengthen public trust and demonstrate that accountability institutions can respond with independence, fairness, professionalism, and resolve,” he said.
In a chance interview, Jose Balmeo Jr., deputy ombudsman said the forum would help investigators improve techniques on gathering data and strengthening cases.
He added that evidence that may be possibly shared by their counterparts would speed up the accountability process.
“If there will be assets that will be uncovered during intelligence gathering and information sharing, that will be very useful…we hope that if ever that would come…parang ma-sho-shortcut natin ang [we may speed up] process because of this cooperation,” Balmeo said.
Remulla was unable to attend the forum as he is at the global conference on sustainable development at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA.
