Youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) called on the Office of the Ombudsman on Sunday to release an update on the status of pending graft cases involving public officials, coming on the heels of former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s release on bail.
On Friday, the Sandiganbayan Third Division allowed Revilla to post a ₱1-million bail for his ₱92.8-million malversation charge involving an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, which he posted right away.
The anti-graft court stated in its resolution that prosecutors fell short of establishing strong evidence of guilt against the former lawmaker.
“The Office of the Ombudsman has clearly failed to convince both the public and the courts of the strength of their anti-corruption cases,” Spark stated.
“Taxpayers do not need any more of Boying Remulla’s papogi press conferences, but rather a transparent, and comprehensive report of all case build-ups,” the group added.
Spark specifically drew attention to ongoing investigations involving Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Joel Villanueva, who were previously linked to the flood control issue.
“The Ombudsman is yet to actually prove its crusade for justice is not politically motivated and blind to partisan interests,” the youth organization noted.
The group pointed out that several past and present cabinet members have faced minimal public scrutiny despite being tied to similar corruption allegations.
Spark warned that ongoing delays in holding corrupt officials accountable would completely erode public trust in the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
“If the Ombudsman cannot give this assurance of transparency, then justice will not be achieved in the courts but through a people’s uprising,” Spark warned.