MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said individuals implicated in alleged flood control corruption cases may opt to return stolen public funds in lieu of facing criminal or administrative charges, though he stressed that the government will not agree to reduced settlement amounts.

In a media report, it said that speaking at a press conference, Remulla said restitution remains an available option as part of efforts to recover public funds.

“Hindi ko ho gusto magpakulong ng tao kaya lang wala tayong choice minsan. Pero kung merong way out, gamitin natin yung way out. Sinasabi ko yan. Yung restitution, bukas pa ‘yan. Ito lang, the cellphone analogy. Pag ninakawan ka ng cellphone at tinawagan ka ng pulis, sabi sa iyo, ‘nahuli na namin ‘yung nagnakaw, baka hanapin mo cellphone mo.’ Pagdating mo sa presinto, pag nakita mo yung telepono mo, gusto mo na umuwi, ayaw mo na magdemanda,” Remulla said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“Tao lang tayo e. Kaya sabi ko restitution is always open. We can always talk about it and we can always agree if people are reasonable,” he added.

However, Remulla clarified that there would be no negotiation or reduction in the amount to be returned.

“Basta iyong pinag-uusapan na halaga, walang tawaran. Hindi tayo magtatawaran dito,” Remulla said.

“Isoli [sa gobyerno] ang dapat isoli,” he added.

He also said courts should aim to resolve flood control-related cases within two years, emphasizing the need for faster judicial proceedings.

“The courts should also be given a chance to vindicate themselves. It should take us a year to present our case, so the defense should also take one year. So judgment can be done within two years,” Remulla said.

“Because we don’t want these cases to be filed, we go on a press conference, and then the cases remain pending for 15 years. There should be a result,” he added.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the government has so far recovered PHP611 million in cash and assets linked to state witnesses in the flood control controversy as of March 31. These include former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo (PHP290 million), former DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara (PHP181 million), former DPWH regional director Gerard Opulencia (PHP120 million), and contractor Sally Santos (PHP20 million).

Remulla also said the Ombudsman is set to file plunder and malversation charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada before the Sandiganbayan on May 28 over the alleged flood control scandal. A separate plunder case will also be filed against Senator Joel Villanueva, according to the Ombudsman.

Since his appointment in October 2025, the Ombudsman has filed three batches of flood control-related cases before the Sandiganbayan, including:

• malversation and graft charges against resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and at least 15 others over an alleged substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro worth PHP289 million
• malversation and graft charges against contractor Sarah Discaya and others over an alleged PHP96.5 million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental
• malversation and graft charges against former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former DPWH Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez, and five others over an alleged PHP92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan

The Office of the Ombudsman Office of the Ombudsman has begun pursuing multiple flood control-related cases before the Sandiganbayan as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in infrastructure projects.