Camille Naredo

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla takes his oath as the new Ombudsman before Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in Manila on Wednesday, October 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla takes his oath as the new Ombudsman before Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in Manila on Wednesday, October 9, 2025.

Remulla, who succeeds outgoing Ombudsman Samuel Martires, vows to uphold transparency, fairness, and accountability as he leads the country’s top anti-graft agency. A former Justice Secretary, Remulla also pledged to strengthen the Ombudsman’s efforts to fight corruption and restore public trust in government institutions. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

OMBUDSMAN

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176356477835220251009-ombudsman-remulla-MT16 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla takes his oath as the new Ombudsman before Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in Manila on Wednesday, October 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla takes his oath as the new Ombudsman before Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in Manila on Wednesday, October 9, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday said the government is willing to provide protection to resigned lawmaker Elizaldy Co should he decide to return to the Philippines to face corruption cases against him.</p><p>Co earlier said he was <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/16/zaldy-co-fears-for-life-ex-speaker-romualdez-will-shoot-me-if-i-talk-1657">afraid of getting killed</a> after he dropped bombshell allegations directly linking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the P100 billion budget insertion and flood control scandals.</p><p>But Remulla said he has nothing to worry about, at least on the part of the Marcos administration.</p><p>“I need witnesses alive. Kung meron siyang ibang kinatatakutan, sabihin niya, tutulungan namin siya. We don’t want anyone to be gunned. Siyempre sa’min ibibintang pag may mangyari,” said Remulla during a press conference at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City.</p><p>“We can make sure that the arrangements are done properly na hindi siya ma-expose sa peril,” he added.</p><p>According to Remulla, it’s important for Co to fly back home so he can formally substantiate his accusations, especially for the preliminary investigation phase.</p><p>“He has to come home and swear by the contents of his affidavit, kasi he’s also being accused of a crime,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/18/lawmakers-urge-ex-colleague-zaldy-co-to-return-to-ph-answer-questions-0930" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Lawmakers urge ex-colleague Zaldy Co to return to PH, answer questions</a></div><p>Malacañang had earlier assured Co that the government will provide him with security and protection, should he decide to come home to face corruption allegations.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>INVESTIGATING ZALDY CO’S ALLEGATIONS</strong></div><p>But even without a sworn affidavit yet, Remulla said the agency is already looking into the supposed involvement of some of the officials Co mentioned, such as former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who is related to resigned Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.</p><p>“Possible din, kasi may relationship siya rito e. Before he became PLLO, he was a Usec. in the office of ES Bersamin,” he noted.</p><p>Even resigned Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Chief Amenah Pangandaman’s possible role in the mess will be investigated. Co had accused her of having direct knowledge about the controversial budget insertions and facilitating it.</p><p>“Magfo-forensic accounting muna kami sa books ng DBM to find out the veracity of the information, and to see the process first—kung kinakailangan bang pumirma o hindi pumirma to sign off on something or utos lang yan para mangyari,” added Remulla.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/18/gov-t-to-grant-security-protection-for-zaldy-co-should-he-return-to-ph-malaca-ang-1947">READ: Gov’t to grant security, protection for Zaldy Co should he return to PH -- Malacañang</a></div><p>Remulla, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the cases filed against Co and the corporate directors of Sunwest Inc. before the Sandiganbayan are airtight.</p><p>Although he has divested from Sunwest, Co is still believed to be the beneficial owner of the company, which is accused of building a P289 million “substandard” flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>The project was funded in 2024 or during Co’s stint as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.</p><p>“We always understand corporations as separate entities from people pero kung ito ay ginawang device lang to escape liability, then the court can step in and say that they can be one and the same person,” explained Remulla.</p>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday said the government is willing to provide protection to resigned lawmaker Elizaldy Co should he decide to return to the Philippines to face corruption cases against him.</p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday said the government is willing to provide protection to resigned lawmaker Elizaldy Co should he decide to return to the Philippines to face corruption cases against him.

'I need witnesses alive': Remulla says gov’t ready to provide protection to Zaldy Co upon return to PH

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'I need witnesses alive': Remulla says gov’t ready to provide protection to Zaldy Co upon return to PH

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 19, 2025 11:52 PM PHT

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Updated November 20, 2025 01:08 AM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

Office of the Ombudsman

budget insertions

flood control scandal

corruption

Jesus Crispin Remulla

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