The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
A special division in the Sandiganbayan dedicated to handling cases linked to the ghost flood control projects may soon be formed, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Remulla said he plans to raise the proposal when he meets with magistrates of the anti-graft court next week, along with other possible measures to expedite the resolution of corruption cases.
“I will ask the Sandiganbayan and, of course, the Supreme Court if we will need a special (Sandiganbayan) division,” he said in a press briefing, noting that the issue will be part of a broader dialogue on the court’s operational needs.
The Ombudsman also disclosed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering one individual for coverage under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) in connection with the flood control scandal. Several others have applied but were found ineligible due to their extensive involvement in multiple irregularities.
“We have one individual under consideration,” Remulla said. “Many are applying, but the WPP was not created for a multitude of crimes done by one person. A state witness is usually one who is least guilty.”
He added that from an initial pool of 100 to 200 individuals potentially liable in the multibillion-peso corruption scandal, around 15 are “ripe for prosecution.”
Remulla also defended the work of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) amid criticism that it overlaps with the functions of prosecutors and the Ombudsman’s office.
“The ICI is functioning very well, and the information they give us is vetted,” he said. “It’s a step faster for the Ombudsman because once they file it, they’re already prepared. I think that helps.”