APART FROM scrutinizing statements of assets, liabilities and networth(SALNs), the Office of the Ombudsman has commenced a lifestyle check on 26 House members linked to the so-called flood control scandal.
According to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, conducting lifestyle checks would allow them to validate whether or not the acquired wealth would match what has been declared in their SALN.
Likewise under the Ombudsman’s radar are assets acquired through a scheme referred to as “kickbacks.”
Ombudsman Crispin Remulla previously bragged to have found irregularities in the declared wealth of 26 congressmen linked to the flood control mess.
Clavano echoed Remulla’s claim, adding that irregularities were found when investigators looked into the SALNs of the lawmakers.
“We found there are (irregularities)… we are strengthening our lifestyle checks,” Clavano was quoted in a radio interview.
“The SALNs we received are compared to all the registries to see if what they declared matches those found listed on the registries,” he added.
When asked who among the House members are under the Ombudsman’s lifestyle check, Clavano replied: “It’s still an ongoing investigation and the anti-graft body has more to do.”
In April, the Ombudsman obtained copies of the SALNs of 26 House members who have been tagged in the flood control controversy. Clavano said copies of other congressmen’s SALN will also be subpoenaed as the anti-graft body digs deeper into the scandal.
He earlier clarified that the Ombudsman’s efforts to secure copies of SALNs of lawmakers is not limited to the flood control project scandal alone but also include other infrastructure-related anomalies.
The lifestyle checks that Remulla ordered involve the so-called ‘cong-tractors’ – government officials moonlighting as contractors.
Remulla mentioned in 2025 12 to 15 House members with undeniable links to construction firms that bagged millions in government public works contracts. He stated that over 10% of the 317-seat chamber may be involved in the multibillion-peso flood control project controversy.