WITH A STAUNCH ally now calling shots for the Office of the Ombudsman, Vice President Sara Duterte will have to kiss her 2028 presidential bid goodbye — at least for now.
Sara Duterte who has been accused of squandering P612.5 million in confidential funds allotted to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) which she once held, is deemed as a formidable contender when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s term comes to a close in 2028.
Unlike Sara, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez has every reason to be complacent even after being dragged into the trillion-peso scandal embarking on ghost flood control projects.
SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE
In a story which appeared in major Manila-based daily newspapers, Remulla was quoted as saying that his stint as Ombudsman would take on a “no-nonsense stance” against corruption.
In reference to the “firestorm” of corruption allegations surrounding the billions of pesos lost to flood control projects, Remulla vowed to “look for someone to hold accountable.”
It could be Marcos’ top nemesis, or Romualdez who happens to be his relative.
In a press briefing shortly after the Palace announced his appointment as the new Ombudsman, Remulla specifically hinted at the complaints related to the flood control projects.
By his own admission, the former Justice Secretary turned Marcos Jr’s whipping boy, said that corruption “is no secret to us.”
UNLIKE HIS PRECESSORS
According to Remulla, his stint as Justice Secretary before being appointed as Ombudsman is an advantage because he can streamline the prosecutorial process.
To get things done, Remulla cited the need to strike a partnership of sorts between the Department of Justice and the Office of Ombudsman, for which floated the idea of forging cooperation with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He gave a premium on the need to speed up resolution of cases filed against government officials.
Remulla’s appointment came a day after the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) submitted its official shortlist of Ombudsman aspirants.
The Justice Secretary, and former lawmaker is set to take his oath of office tomorrow (October 9) and will officially assume his new post on Friday.
OMBUDSMAN BOYING
As an Ombudsman, Remulla is walking into a mess with tens of thousands of complaints piling dust for decades in his new office.
Aside from the pending resolution of these complaints, the new Ombudsman is facing a tall order with a twist.
For one, prosecuting Sara – the President’s most vocal critic – would be a “piece of cake” for Remulla who has been through thick and thin of his law profession.
But with scandals deemed as much bigger than the controversial pork barrel scam that saw three senators spend time behind bars, many of us must be wondering whether or not Remulla could stand the heat — especially in sending a presidential cousin to jail over the flood control scandal.
COMPARING NUMBERS
The controversy surrounding Sara’s confidential fund involves P612 million.
Of this amount, P500 million came from the confidential and intelligence funds allotted to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the rest under DepEd where she served as Secretary from July 2022 until she resigned in June 2024.
It was this reason that the House of Representatives, then under Romualdez as Speaker, voted to impeach Sara. The complaint, which has reached the Senate, however, was thrown out following a Supreme Court ruling.
Interestingly, the mess that Romualdez is into decimated Sara’s P612 million. No less than Public Works Secretary Vice Dizon claimed that the flood control scandal would breach a trillion-peso mark.
STANDING THE HEAT
The flood control scandal traced to Romualdez and cohorts is so much bigger. It is worse than the pork barrel scam that sent Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla to jail
The flood control scandal money trail is clearer. Worse, the public’s patience has gone thin.
Doubts are raised whether or not Remulla, who has seven years to make a difference, could send Romualdez to jail.
After all, blood has always been — and will always be thicker than water.