MANILA – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will formally request Senate President Vicente Sotto III to implement the 2016 dismissal order against Senator Joel Villanueva.

The order, issued by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, held Villanueva administratively liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service over the alleged misuse of ₱10 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation when he served as a CIBAC party-list representative in 2008.

Funds intended for agricultural and livelihood programs were allegedly diverted to a bogus NGO with fabricated documents and fictitious beneficiaries, resulting in what authorities described as a “ghost project.”

Speaking on ANC’s “Headstart” on Tuesday, October 23, Remulla said he plans to send the letter to Sotto on Friday.

“I will try to have it done today so I can deliver it to him tomorrow when I go to the Senate,” he said.

The dismissal order was never implemented at the time because the Senate and House leadership argued that the ombudsman had no jurisdiction over members of Congress, allowing Villanueva to continue holding office despite the standing order.

The senator has also faced additional allegations regarding government projects. During a House tri-committee hearinglast month, former DPWH First District Assistant Engineer Jaypee Mendoza claimed Villanueva requested ₱1.5 billion from former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara for a multi-purpose building. A text message presented at the hearing reportedly indicated that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan could only allocate ₱600 million.

Former DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez further alleged that Villanueva received 30 percent in kickbacks as a “standard operating procedure” from the purported allocation. Villanueva has consistently denied these accusations.