A youth group on Friday, June 19, questioned the delay in the filing of charges against Senator Joel Villanueva over his alleged involvement in a flood-control project controversy in Bulacan, despite earlier pronouncements from the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) that the case was already ripe for prosecution.

On May 26, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the OMB could file a plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Villanueva within two weeks over his alleged involvement in the flood-control controversy.

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Members of Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) trooped to the OMB to call for the immediate filing of appropriate charges against Villanueva, citing the absence of any publicly announced action more than two weeks after Remulla said there was sufficient basis to proceed with the case.

The youth group said the case involves allegations of the diversion of at least P150 million intended for a flood-control project in Bulacan.

“Mahigit dalawang linggo na ang lumipas pero wala pa ring malinaw na aksyon. Nakakabahala na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nila kinakasuhan si Villanueva. Dahil ba bumaliktad na siya, kumampi sa Gatchalian bloc (More than two weeks have passed, yet there is still no clear action. It is alarming that Villanueva has not been charged until now. Is it because he switched sides and aligned himself with the Gatchalian bloc)?” SPARK said in a statement. 

The group noted that the delay coincided with recent political realignments in the Senate, including Villanueva’s reported transfer to the majority bloc led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

SPARK said the Ombudsman’s credibility is being placed under scrutiny following its earlier pronouncement regarding the case.

“The public now views that the constitutional body has been weaponized by the Marcos administration to facilitate the establishment of a new Senate majority and to secure the senators’ votes in the impeachment case of VP Sara Duterte,” it stated.

Likewise, the group criticized the current Senate leadership, alleging that political considerations may be influencing decisions related to the case.

“Hindi bago ang ganitong klaseng oportunismo sa Senado. Nakikinabang ang kasalukuyang administrasyon ni Marcos sa bagong mayorya para sa kanyang long-term goal na matanggal si Sara Duterte sa pwesto at pagbawalang makatakbo muli (This kind of opportunism is not new in the Senate. The current Marcos administration benefits from the new majority in pursuing its long-term goal of removing Sara Duterte from office and preventing her from running again),” the group said.

With this, SPARK urged the Ombudsman to carry out its constitutional mandate independently and ensure that public officials are held accountable regardless of political affiliation.

“The youth call on the Ombudsman to fulfill its constitutional mandate by demonstrating independence, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring that no individual is placed above public scrutiny regardless of political affiliation or alliance,” it said.

As of posting time, neither the OMB nor Villanueva’s camp had issued a statement on the group’s allegations.