MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will not provide dates for the filing of charges against those allegedly involved in the flood control kickback scheme.

Remulla made the statement in response to Senator Imee Marcos’ claim that charges against Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. would be filed on January 15.

“Buti pa siya, alam niya. Ako, hindi ko alam [ang filing of charges na ‘yan]. Hindi ko alam saan ‘yan nanggagaling. We cannot give any dates or any commitments [on] anything [about that],” (Oh, she knows that? Good for her. I don’t know when the charges will be filed. I don’t know where she got her information) Remulla said.

“I don’t want to mention any more names for now. All I can say is that things are moving smoothly. We are hiring people. The work is continuing on a daily basis and we intend to keep it that way for the next seven years. We are doing our work. The DOJ is doing its work,” he added.

Remulla, who previously served as Justice secretary, was appointed Ombudsman on October 7, 2025. He also noted that it is better to refrain from giving specific dates, although he did not cite a particular incident.

In December 2025, Remulla had said that big-time perpetrators of the flood control mess would be in jail by December 15. Under his tenure, the Ombudsman has filed two batches of flood control-related cases:

• Malversation and graft charges against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and 16 others at the Sandiganbayan over a ₱289 million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro; and
• Malversation and graft charges against contractor Sarah Discaya and others at the Digos City Regional Trial Court over a ₱96.5 million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

“It is (pronouncement of dates and names) being misinterpreted and some people want to push the issue and try to put a date. I will not do that. Tapos na tayo. I think we’ve learned our lesson from that,” Remulla said.

He assured the public that justice will be served and that the “big fish” behind the kickback scheme will face consequences.

“[Our commitment is that] you [will] see us here every day, working to make sure that justice is obtained by the Filipino people,” he said.

“Walang duda ‘yun (There is no doubt about that). We have to observe due process. The law mandates that you cannot step on the rights of the people. That’s what’s under our Constitution: the accused also have rights,” Remulla added.