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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman Remulla reveals 'money trail' leading to Sen Chiz Escudero

Ombudsman Remulla reveals 'money trail' leading to Sen Chiz Escudero

Published Nov 4, 2025 06:36 pm
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that their investigation on Sen. Chiz Escudero's involvement in the flood-control scam is currently "ongoing" and they have already unraveled the "money trail" leading to the former Senate president.
"We have statements of a money trail leading to him," Remulla said and there is “a narration of facts that are there already."
But Remulla said his office has been looking into other pieces of evidence.
"Pag wala kang makitang Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) trail, then you have to follow a cash trail (If you cannot find the AMLC trail, then you have to follow a cash trail)," he said.
Meanwhile, Remulla also said that former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez should also be held liable for the flood-control scam because of the appointment of resigned Ako Bikol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co.
Remulla said their investigations have shown that there is a pattern wherein Co coordinated with the senators in coming up with the final version of the national budget.
He said: "If fingers do not point to the former speaker, as the leader of the House, he was responsible for the appointment of Zaldy Co. Although Zaldy Co was elected on the floor, everybody knows it was the Speaker's choice. That's why we have to hold him accountable for that."
He added that they have to "stretch the boundaries of normal legal theory" because Co's actions caused great damage to the machinery of the government and the innocent Filipino people.
"If there's nothing criminal about it, then there's negligence at least," Remulla said.
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