Ombudsman Remulla says ex-QC lawmaker willing to testify in flood control mess
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday, Oct. 22, said a former lawmaker from Quezon City decided to cooperate and divulge information on the flood control anomalies.
Remulla, however, did not divulge the name of the former lawmaker or from what congressional district in Quezon City he or she served.
He just shared that he received a call from his friend who will serve as a "go-between" to the former QC lawmaker who is ready to divulge everything he or she knows about the flood-control scams.
He said the former lawmaker is reportedly ready to point fingers to those who are behind the scams and how they have committed the irregularities.
The Ombudsman also narrated the “dating gawain” (old habit) being done at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) where even the losing bidders of government contracts still receive a three percent cut from the total contracted amount.
If a government contract is worth P100 million, its three percent is equivalent to P3 million, which Remulla said will be split up "for the boys." Even DPWH employees down to its janitors receive something so "everybody's happy,” he also said.
"It's something we have to change in our culture. Parang tinanggap na natin yun ang kalakaran at walang masama dun. Hindi po. (It's like we just accepted that practice and there's nothing wrong with it. But no)," he also said.
Meanwhile, Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman has returned the five flood-control cases to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for preliminary investigation which is expected to be terminated by Nov. 20.
"Sila na mag preliminary investigation, sila na magtrabaho nun kasi hawak na nila ang testigo. Para hindi na umulit ang proceso dito, they will go straight to the regional trial court (RTC) (The DOJ should work on the PI, they should work on it because they hold the witness. That way, we don't have to repeat the process here, and they will go straight to the RTC)," he said.