Amid the Flood Control Probe, Ombudsman Remulla Speaks on SALN of Congressmen
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla claimed that their team is allegedly having a hard time getting the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of the congressmen they’re investigating.
The flood control investigation is ongoing. Countless Filipinos were left disappointed and calling for accountability after several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as well as members of the House of Representatives were tagged in the flood control mess.
Some senators and former senators are also accused of alleged flood control corruption. The issue triggered the “Trillion Peso March”, an action protest that gathered thousands of Filipinos in the streets in September and November last year.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also ordered the creation of an independent body that will investigate the infrastructure projects of the government. The executive order led to the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.
In December last year,
Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the ICI will allegedly conclude its flood control investigation
soon. Remulla’s office have also filed charges against several government officials and contractors who are allegedly involved in the flood control corruption in the country.
Photo Courtesy of Inquirer
With regards to the case of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez who is also tagged in the flood control mess, in November, the Ombudsman claimed that Romualdez may face flood control charges in 6 to 9 months from then. Recently, the country’s chief grafter spoke about their access to the SALNs of the congressmen who are allegedly involved in the supposed multi-billion flood control scam.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that their investigative team is allegedly having a hard time getting the SALN of the congressmen that they are investigating. According to Remulla, the House Secretary General’s Office allegedly said that the request still has to get the approval of the plenary.
“Lately, our team is having a hard time getting the SALNs of congressmen we are investigating, because the secretary-general’s office is saying, or I’ve been told, that it has to pass the plenary before they release a SALN,”
the Ombudsman said.
Speaking at a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Remulla assured that he will not consider the alleged “excuse” over the request for the congressmen’s SALN. Based on the
report
, he is set to sign a letter to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy to expressed a protest on the process of the House Secretary General’s Office.
“They said the permission still has to go through the plenary. That’s not how it works. I used to be in Congress. I know the plenary inside and out. We don’t do that,”
Remulla said.
Previously,
Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that he will not spare not even the relatives of Marcos Jr. in the flood control investigation