Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Friday questioned Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla for publicly announcing the date when arrest warrants will be issued against individuals allegedly involved in the controversial flood-control corruption scheme.
During the Senate plenary deliberations on the Ombudsman’s proposed 2026 budget, Marcoleta questioned the propriety of Remulla’s earlier statement that warrants of arrest would “surely” be issued by December 15 in connection with the flood control anomaly, RH Raymund Dadpaas reported.
Marcoleta warned that such declarations could be perceived as preempting the authority of the Sandiganbayan and regional trial courts, which are responsible for issuing warrants.
“The Office of the Ombudsman is following the timeline, so papaano po niya nasabi na on December 15?” Marcoleta said.
“Ito po ay nakakatakot Mr. President, papaano po natin mapapaniwalaan nasa timeline na sinet ng Ombudsman ay mapapalabas niya ang warrant of arrest,” Marcoleta questioned.
He further cautioned that the Ombudsman’s public timeline raises concerns that it might “influence or preempt” judicial decisions.
“The most intriguing issue here, Mr. President, is that he might be able to influence and preempt the decision of the RTCs and the Sandiganbayan...just to make that timeline a reality. This is a very dangerous proposition,” Marcoleta added.
However, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who sponsored the Ombudsman’s budget, responded on behalf of Remulla. He clarified that while the Ombudsman prosecutes cases, it has no control over the judiciary.
“Mr. President hindi naman ho, dahil alam naman natin ang Sandigan ay under the ambit of the judiciary. Iba naman ito sa trabaho ng Ombudsman pero bilang Ombudsman, nakikita ko ho na dahil sila po ang magpa-file ng kaso, very optimistic sila na ‘yung kanilang ipa-file na kaso ay mayrooon pong kinahihinatnan at mayroong resulta. ‘Yung resulta na gusto nilang mangyari ay mag-issue ng warrant of arrest,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian conveyed Remulla’s explanation that the confidence in the December 15 timeline stemmed from the Ombudsman’s strong belief in the solidity of the cases prepared.
Marcoleta, however, urged the Ombudsman to refrain from setting deadlines that may cast doubt on the independence of the courts.
While he affirmed his support for holding those involved in the flood control project irregularities accountable, he stressed that imposing a public timeline was “suspicious” and unnecessary.
However, according to Gatchalian, Remulla maintains that the office’s confidence in the evidence supports their belief that cases will progress swiftly—hence the timeline they announced.
