Flood control scam raps filed; no big fish

It was a busy second half of the year for the Office of the Ombudsman following the flood of complaints, reports and referrals seeking an investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control scam — widely regarded as the biggest corruption scandal so far under the Marcos administration.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

When reports of the diversion of public funds to alleged ghost flood control projects began dominating headlines in the latter half of the year, the ombudsman's office was without a permanent head, following the end of Samuel Martires' seven-year term on July 27.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla formally assumed office on Oct. 10 and promptly vowed a thorough probe into the alleged anomalies.

He also reversed policies of his predecessor Samuel Martires, notably allowing the release of public officials' statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

He said the investigation would take its cue from reports and recommendations submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Commission on Audit (COA), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.

Remulla, a former justice secretary, also deputized prosecutors from the Department of Justice to conduct preliminary investigations into several flood control projects in Bulacan involving public officials with Salary Grade 26 or below.

Earlier, Remulla told reporters that his office intended to file 14 to 15 flood control-related cases before the end of the year, echoing President Marcos' earlier statement that some ranking officials could be spending Christmas behind bars.

In a November interview, Remulla said senators Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, along with former senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay, were among those expected to be charged by December.

He added that arrest warrants could possibly be issued by the Sandiganbayan before Christmas, specifically on Dec. 15 or 16.

This, however, did not materialize.