Malacañang: Ombudsman won’t take over ICI

Metro Manila, Philippines - The independent commission investigating flood control project anomalies will not be abolished even if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed a new ombudsman, Malacañang assured on Wednesday.

Marcos appointed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to be the new ombudsman responsible for investigating and prosecuting Philippine government officials accused of crimes, especially graft and corruption.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Office of the Ombudsman will not focus solely on the flood control mess.

“Maraming kaso ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin. Hindi natin nakikita na ito ang dahilan upang gibain o wakasan ang trabaho ng ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure),” Castro said of Remulla’s new appointment.

[Translation: There are many cases that need to be attended to. We don’t see it as a reason to end the work of the ICI.]

Marcos has formed the three-member ICI to investigate flood control and related projects within the last 10 years.

Castro said the work of the ICI will help fast-track the case filing in flood control project anomalies.

Under Remulla’s leadership of Jesus Crispin Remulla, the Department of Justice (DOJ) created a special task force to probe alleged corruption and bid-rigging in flood control projects.

He is also knowledgeable in the corruption scandal as the DOJ started evaluating the applications for the Witness Protection Program of several personalities involved in the alleged kickback schemes, such as former district engineers and the contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

“Gugustuhin ba nila na ang Ombudsman lang ang magtatrabaho dito? Hanggang kailan tayo aabutin para matapos ang isang kaso?” Castro told reporters.

[Translation: Do we want the Ombudsman to be the only one working on the case? Until when can it finish one case?]

Next justice secretary

Meanwhile, Castro denied she is being tapped to replace Remulla in the DOJ’s top post.

“Hindi natin alam saan nagsimula ‘yan, walang katotohanan ‘yan,” said Castro, who is a lawyer.

[Translation: We don’t know where the posts started. There is no truth in this.]

When asked whether she would accept if the president were to offer the job, she said: “Hypothetical question, I cannot answer.”

Castro said there is still no shortlist for the post. Remulla named Justice Undersecretary Frederick Vida as the DOJ officer-in-charge.