Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla affirmed on Friday that the ongoing investigations into Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero will proceed, unaffected by their choice to align with the Senate majority bloc.
“Tuloy ‘yan, ginagawa pa rin namin lahat ‘yan,” Remulla said, referring to the ongoing proceedings involving Escudero.
The two lawmakers are embroiled in allegations concerning kickbacks linked to illicit flood control initiatives—allegations that both senators have repeatedly refuted.
Remulla noted that while the inquiries remain in the preliminary fact-finding stage, they are steadily advancing toward the next phase of the process.
“Nasa fact-finding pa rin… pero malapit na rin ‘yan. Darating tayo diyan,” he added.
When questioned in a separate inquiry about the grievance lodged against Villanueva, the Ombudsman responded,
“Ganun din, same.”
Furthermore, Remulla emphasized that the political realignment of the senators to the majority faction will not influence the independent investigations led by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Villanueva’s case stems from an accusation by Henry Alcantara, the former Bulacan 1st District engineer for the Department of Public Works and Highways, who alleged that the senator accepted a ₱150-million kickback out of a ₱600-million multi-purpose building initiative in Bulacan. Both Villanueva and Escudero have firmly dismissed the complaints filed against them.
Remulla also refuted assertions that his office was disproportionately targeting members of the Senate minority, maintaining that the anti-graft body does not adjudicate cases along party lines.
“No such thing. Remember, the people in jail now, many of them were our allies. That’s just, that’s the way it is,“ the Ombudsman said.
The Ombudsman’s statements follow remarks from Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who suggested that minority senators serving as judges in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial were being slapped with legal complaints to undermine their leverage.