MANILA – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will no longer ask the Senate to enforce the 2016 dismissal order against Senator Joel Villanueva, after discovering what he described as a previously undisclosed or “secret” ruling that had already reversed the order.

Remulla earlier announced plans to write Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to implement the 2016 directive issued by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, which found Villanueva liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the service over the alleged misuse of ₱10 million in PDAF funds when he served as a CIBAC party-list representative in 2008.

However, the Ombudsman said he was surprised to learn of a July 2019 decision signed by his predecessor, Samuel Martires, overturning the dismissal order.

“To my surprise, when I got to the office, I was confronted with a decision signed by former Ombudsman Martires dated July 2019,” Remulla said in a chance interview. “Even [Senate President] Tito Sotto didn’t know about it… So don’t you call that a secret decision?”

Remulla said he will review the reversal and determine why it only came to light recently. He described the case as “very mysterious,” noting that Villanueva’s election to the Senate makes it a matter of public interest.

When asked if he would still pursue the implementation of the original order, Remulla said no.

“Not anymore, because our premises have already changed. Things are different now,” he explained.

The Ombudsman’s earlier plan to revisit the case stemmed from the Senate’s alleged failure to act on the 2016 ruling, which was never enforced due to questions over jurisdiction.

Villanueva, meanwhile, has also faced separate corruption allegations in recent congressional hearings, including claims of kickbacks from public works allocations—charges he has consistently denied.