Remulla: All flood control suspects in prison by 2026

MANILA, Philippines — All the perpetrators of anomalies in flood control projects will be behind bars in 2026, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla told a gathering of vice mayors on Wednesday.

“Rest assured, the administration of President Marcos is not stepping back from its commitment to have those who did wrong, who stole, jailed this 2026,” Remulla said in Filipino in his speech at the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines’ 29th National Convention. Remulla officiated the oathtaking of newly elected VMLP executive board.

Earlier, President Marcos said some of the personalities involved in the corruption scandal would be in jail before Christmas.

“We have only one vision – a better nation, better regions,” Remulla said.

He said that as concerns persist over how public funds are spent, the President remains determined to pursue his campaign against corrupt officials and their accomplices.

Civil forfeiture probe

Meanwhile, Liberal Party (LP) lawmakers led by House Deputy Minority Leader and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima have filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the implementation of civil forfeiture and related measures under existing laws with respect to ill-gotten or unexplained wealth of public officials and employees implicated in the flood control projects controversy.

In filing House Resolution No. 524, members of the House LP bloc aim to look into the status of recovering properties unlawfully acquired by public officials or employees under Republic Act 1379 or the Unexplained Wealth Law, and RA 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act, “in order to identify possible gaps in procedure and implementation, recommend remedial legislative measures to improve the effectiveness of the government’s anti-corruption mechanisms, and ensure accountability in public service.”

According to the LP lawmakers, the value of assets recently recovered by the state “would appear a pittance compared to the estimated hundreds of billions of pesos lost to organized corruption amid the biggest corruption scandal in the country’s history.”