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

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176285296188220251009-ombudsman-remulla-MT11 (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 -- The malversation case involving former congressman Zaldy Co, Sunwest Inc., and other officials of Department of Public Works and Highways Region IV-B who have been linked to the anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro has already been submitted for resolution.</p><p>This, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.</p><p>&quot;Dito sa Office of the Ombudsman, ang aming tingin, maunang maifa-file na kaso ni Zaldy Co at ang ibang mga opisyal ng DPWH… at bumubuo ng kumpanyang Sunwest,&quot; Remulla told reporters on Tuesday. </p><p>&quot;Once resolved, ang ibig sabihin niyan ay pwede na isampa sa korte pagkatapos nito kasi nag-imbestiga na ang Kagawaran ng Katarungan at Office of the Ombudsman,&quot; he added.</p><p>Remulla said it will file the case against more than 10 respondents with salary grades 27 and above before the Sandiganbayan this week or next week. </p><p>He said the signed contracts are their strongest evidence against Co, even as the former congressman insists he divested from Sunwest Inc.</p><p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon had previously tagged Co and Sunwest Inc behind five of the seven substandard flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro. Co went on to resign from his post in the House of Representatives in late September.</p><p>&quot;Meron tayong pag-aaral sa beneficial interest. Kahit mag-divest [si Co], sa kanila pa rin. Madali magdahilan na nag-divest pero kung sa kanila pa rin ‘yan, kung sa anak niya nagpunta, sa kapatid niya nagpunta, may prohibited interest pa rin,&quot; said Remulla.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman said it is conducting a preliminary investigation on 10 flood-control cases, while five Department of Justice (DOJ) cases are also in the same phase.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>EXTRADITION CONSIDERED FOR CO; NO PREJUDGEMENT</strong></div><p>Remulla said extradition is an option they can pursue to bring former Rep. Zaldy Co back to the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;Extradition is a process we can use. Naniniwala ako na kaya natin ‘yan. Kasi ang goodwill naman nating bilang mga Pilipino ay napakalaki sa buong mundo. At pag Pilipino nakiusap, malamang makinig sila,&quot; Remulla said.</p><p>He also responded to remarks by Co&#x27;s lawyer, Atty. Ruy Rondain, who said the Ombudsman may have &quot;prejudged&quot; the case before Co could answer the allegations.</p><p>&quot;I am not the judge. We are not judges here. We are here to investigate graft and corruption. It is something we have to do for our country… prejudging is a wrong term because our job is to prosecute people,&quot; Remulla said. </p><p>The Ombudsman earlier said Co has been moving around Spain and Portugal.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/6/zaldy-co-s-lawyer-says-accusations-against-client-must-be-specific-detailed-1628">READ: Zaldy Co&#x27;s lawyer says accusations against client must be specific, detailed</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/11/pangilinan-to-sponsor-independent-people-s-commission-bill-1512">READ: Zaldy Co &#x27;deathly afraid&#x27; to come home, won&#x27;t counter Ombudsman case -- lawyer</a></div><p>Remulla said Co&#x27;s return to the Philippines would follow a different process than that of former Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., as Co&#x27;s departure from the country is documented.</p><p>&quot;Iba ang nangyari dito kay Teves… immigration issue ang ginamit natin… (kasi) undocumented na nga sya at meron siyang kasalanan na nagawa sa bansa at hindi makakabuti sa kanila [Timor Leste] na itago nila [si Teves],&quot; he explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>REQUESTING CANDIDATES&#x27; SOCE</strong></div><p>Remulla said his office is also requesting copies of the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of certain candidates, as first reported by Comelec Chairman George Garcia.</p><p>Garcia earlier said the Department of Public Works and Highways provided a list of confirmed government contractors that the commission requested for its investigation into campaign donors.</p>

<p>The malversation case involving former congressman Zaldy Co, Sunwest Inc., and other officials of Department of Public Works and Highways Region IV-B who have been linked to the anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro has already been submitted for resolution</p>

The malversation case involving former congressman Zaldy Co, Sunwest Inc., and other officials of Department of Public Works and Highways Region IV-B who have been linked to the anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro has already been submitted for resolution

Ombudsman: Malversation case against Co, Sunwest Inc, DPWH Region IV-B officials submitted for resolution

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Ombudsman: Malversation case against Co, Sunwest Inc, DPWH Region IV-B officials submitted for resolution

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 11, 2025 05:29 PM PHT

Read More:

flood control

flood control probe

malversation

Ombudsman

Jesus Crispin Remulla

Zaldy Co

Sunwest Inc.

DPWH

Department of Public Works and Highways

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