MANILA — Various civil society groups have called on the Office of the Ombudsman to proceed with the filing of criminal charges against Sen. Joel Villanueva over his alleged involvement in a flood control project, saying his transfer to the Senate majority bloc should not shield him from prosecution.

In a report, it said that the groups, including Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) and Oryang, made the appeal following Villanueva’s move to join the majority bloc led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

In a report, it said that the groups questioned the delay in the filing of cases despite earlier pronouncements.

They pointed out that more than two weeks have passed since Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the cases against Villanueva were already ripe for filing, but no charges have been filed so far.

“Mahigit dalawang linggo na ang lumipas pero wala pa ring malinaw na aksyon. Dahil ba bumaliktad na siya, kumampi sa Gatchalian bloc?” the group asked.

(More than two weeks have passed, but there is no clear action on the part of the Ombudsman. Is it because he already joined the Gatchalian bloc?)

“Handa iyong bagong [Senate] majority na kupkupin si Villanueva. Anong na ang mangyayari sa kaso ni Villanueva? Sasampahan pa rin ba siya [ng kaso]? O dahil bumaliktad na siya, may posibilidad na bailable na lang ang ikaso sa kanya,” Christian Ancheta of SPARK told reporters.

The groups urged the Ombudsman to uphold its constitutional mandate and demonstrate independence by ensuring that political alignment does not affect accountability measures.

Since Remulla was appointed Ombudsman in October 2025, the office has filed multiple batches of flood control-related cases before the courts.

These include malversation and graft charges against resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and at least 15 others over an alleged P289 million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro; malversation and graft cases against contractor Sarah Discaya and others over a P96.5 million alleged ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental; and similar charges involving former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., former DPWH officials, and others linked to a P92.8 million alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Also filed were plunder and graft cases against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan, and several DPWH officials over alleged kickbacks worth around P573 million tied to flood control projects, as well as additional malversation and graft cases against contractor couples Curlee and Sarah Discaya and other DPWH officials.