Davao City ‘epicenter’ of flood control projects before Marcos admin — Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City was the “epicenter” of flood control projects before the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

During the House Committee on Appropriations budget briefing for the fiscal year 2027 for the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, August 25, Remulla described the investigation into flood control projects in Davao as difficult due to the “ecosystem of corruption.”

“Hindi lang madali talaga sapagkat sabihin natin ang epicenter po ng flood control bago ho dumating ang Marcos administration ay Davao City,” Remulla said.

(It really isn't easy because, let's say, the epicenter of flood control before the Marcos administration came in was Davao City.)

“Davao po 'yung ecosystem na aming tinutukoy. Kasi doon maraming pondo na pumasok daw sa flood control,” Remulla said.

(Davao is the ecosystem we are referring to because that is where a lot of funds allegedly went into flood control.)

Remulla described the situation in the region as a deeply entrenched system that presents severe hurdles for investigators.

"Ang ecosystem of corruption po mabigat. Mahirap pong pasukin. Mahirap pong kumuha ng impormasyon. Marami hong taong hindi nagsasalita pero hindi ho kami tumitigil," Remulla said.

(Corruption operates as a heavy, hard-to-penetrate system. Information is difficult to secure, and many choose to remain silent, but our work continues uninterrupted.)

Remulla added that the Office of the Ombudsman plans to expand its probe into other provinces as well.

In a Facebook post, Rep. Paolo Duterte (Davao City 1st District) condemned Remulla's claim, urging him to exercise caution in his statements.

"Boying Remulla, bago ninyo ideklara na Davao City ang 'epicenter' ng flood control corruption noong Duterte administration, baka puwedeng silipin muna ninyo ang mismong records ng DPWH," Duterte said in a Facebook post.

(Boying Remulla, before you declare Davao City as the 'epicenter' of flood control corruption during the Duterte administration, maybe you could first take a look at the actual records of the DPWH.)

"At kung imbestigahan niyo ang Davao dapat hindi lang during my term po ha, 2019 lang po ako naupo na congressman sa aming lugar. Long before I became congressman, Nograles po ang congressman sa aming distrito," he added.

(And if you investigate Davao, it shouldn't just be during my term. I only took office as congressman in our area in 2019. Long before I became congressman, a Nograles was the congressman in our district.)