Camille Naredo

Former 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/File

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

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178765810887720251009-ombudsman-remulla-MT11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Former 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/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former 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/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday called Davao City the &quot;epicenter&quot; of flood control before the Marcos administration, as it supposedly had a significant budget to address flooding.</p><p>At the House Committee on Appropriations deliberation on the budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for 2027,  Remulla confirmed they had been investigating reports of flood control corruption during the past administration but stressed that it had not been easy.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lang ho madali talaga sapagkat sabihin natin ang epicenter po ng flood control bago ho dumating ang Marcos administration ay Davao City. Ang ecosystem of corruption po mabigat. Mahirap pong pasukin. Mahirap pong kumuha ng impormasyon. Marami hong taong hindi nagsasalita. Pero hindi ho kami tumitigil,&quot; Remulla said during Tuesday&#x27;s hearing.</p><p>&quot;Davao po &#x27;yung ecosystem na aming tinutukoy kasi doon ho marami pondo na pumasok daw sa flood control. &#x27;Yan po &#x27;yung aming kinakalap nang husto,&quot; Remulla added. </p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/16/ombudsman-209-flood-control-complaints-under-fact-finding-investigation-1436">READ: 209 flood control complaints under fact-finding investigation—Ombudsman</a></div><p>Tinio clarified if Remulla was calling Davao City the epicenter of flood control corruption. Remulla said he would &quot;not draw that conclusion immediately.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Ito po&#x27;y pinag-aaralan namin kasi ang mahalaga po makita namin ang ebidensya sa ground,&quot; Remulla told lawmakers.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;CONVENIENT VILLAINS&#x27;</strong></div><p>In a post online, Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte said the ombudsman may want to look at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) records first before declaring the city the &quot;epicenter&quot; of flood control corruption. </p><p>Duterte also appealed to Remulla not to swiftly issue statements as these could damage the credibility of the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>&quot;Kung seryoso tayo sa paghahanap ng katotohanan, walang dapat piliing taon, pangalan, partido, o administrasyon. Kung may anomalya, imbestigahan. Kung may ebidensya, ilabas. Pero huwag gawing shortcut ang political narrative para makabuo ng konklusyon,&quot; Duterte said. </p><p>The ombudsman should look for the truth and not &quot;convenient villains,&quot; according to the lawmaker.</p><p>&quot;Kaya sana, Jesus Crispin Remulla, huwag sana tayong pa dalos dalos sa pag bitiw ng mga salita at baka ikasisira lang ito sa kredibilidad ng institusyon lalu na at nasa pag iimbestiga pa lang kayo na stage. Ang Ombudsman ay dapat naghahanap ng katotohanan—not convenient villains,&quot; Duterte wrote.</p><p>After the hearing, Remulla clarified his statement.</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s a big budget in the past in Davao City about flood control. That&#x27;s what I know,&quot; Remulla said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/31/ombudsman-still-trying-to-get-everything-bonoan-can-contribute-to-flood-control-case-2331">READ: Ombudsman &#x27;still trying to get everything&#x27; Bonoan can contribute to flood control case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;LAHAT PO NAGING FLOOD CONTROL BUDGET NALANG&#x27;</strong></div><p>For Remulla, some programs appear to have been set aside in favor of flood control projects when it comes to funding. </p><p>Remulla told lawmakers during the budget hearing that it seems regional development plans are not being followed.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung ating mga regional development plans parang hindi ho nasunod itong mga nakaraang taon. Lahat po naging flood control budget nalang. Ang nangyari po sa budget natin &#x27;yung mga sabihin natin flagship project ng pangulo, nawala. Naging unprogrammed fund nalang,&quot; Remulla said. </p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman will create a committee meant to specifically monitor how the budget is being spent, according to Remulla.</p><p>ACT Teacher&#x27;s Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio also questioned the ombudsman over whether or not they are investigating officials from the Malacañang regarding alleged flood control corruption.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/10/ombudsman-probes-alleged-irregularities-in-cebu-flood-control-infra-1519">READ: Ombudsman probes alleged irregularities in P60B flood control projects in Cebu</a></div><p>&quot;Kamusta po ang imbestigasyon partikular kaugnay sa involvement ng mga officials ng Malacañang mismo kaugnay na na-involve sa flood control or at least na mayroong mga statement at testimonya na nagsasabing involved sila? So I am talking about the public statements made by Zaldy Co,&quot; Tinio said.</p><p>But Remulla responded by saying they are unable to reveal to the public their every move, adding it is not easy to build a case.</p><p>&quot;Wala ho siguro naririnig sapagkat hindi namin trabahong ipabalita &#x27;yung aming pinakukulo pa kasi nga hindi ho madaling magbuo ng kaso. Ang pagbubuo ho ng kaso ay base sa ebidensya. At hindi ho natin maaaring ipamalita sa tao ang bawat kilos na ginagawa namin,&quot; Remulla said.</p>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday called Davao City the "epicenter" of flood control before the Marcos administration, as it supposedly had a significant budget to address flooding.</p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday called Davao City the "epicenter" of flood control before the Marcos administration, as it supposedly had a significant budget to address flooding.

Ombudsman calls Davao 'epicenter' of flood control before Marcos administration

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Ombudsman calls Davao 'epicenter' of flood control before Marcos administration

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2026 07:48 PM PHT

Read More:

Ombudsman

Jesus Crispin Remulla

flood control scandal

Paolo Duterte

House of Representatives

Davao City

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