CEBU CITY — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla urged personnel of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to uphold evidence-based investigations as the agency intensifies its probe into alleged irregularities in flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Speaking before Ombudsman-Visayas personnel, Remulla stressed that investigators must establish strong evidence before pursuing allegations of wrongdoing.

“I’m always looking for the evidence that will buttress the claims that someone has committed a crime because we do not want to accuse anybody without any evidence,” Remulla said.

The Ombudsman said the office’s investigations and prosecutions should go beyond penalizing individuals and ultimately help restore transparency, accountability and public trust in government.

“It’s not about targeting people. It’s about targeting a change in our society. It’s more important,” he said.

Remulla said the Office is currently intensifying its investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control and other infrastructure projects. In Cebu alone, he said, around P60 billion had been allocated for flood control projects.

He acknowledged that Ombudsman investigators could face individuals with substantial financial resources, political influence and power.

“The people we go up against are not pushovers. They have money, they have power, and they’re armed and probably violent later on. We don’t know,” Remulla said, while noting that confronting such risks is part of the responsibility of serving in the Ombudsman.

Remulla also called attention to potential conflicts of interest involving public officials who influence government spending while maintaining financial interests in government contracts.

“When I was in Congress, I knew there were congressmen who were contractors. It was something that was there, but not as blatantly made as now. Because then, the congressmen became contractors. And then the contractors became congressmen,” he said.

He said the certainty of accountability, rather than merely the severity of penalties, is a key deterrent against corruption.

“It is the certainty of punishment. The certainty of punishment will always resonate among the people who commit acts of corruption,” Remulla said.

“Pag nahuli, kulong, mas maraming iiwas sa ganitong gawain. And it is our job to do that. It is our job to make sure that examples are set that crime does not pay. Especially in government,” he added.

Remulla challenged Ombudsman personnel to view their work as part of a broader effort to rebuild confidence in public institutions and create an environment conducive to national development.

“We have to create that kind of country. Help create it,” he said. “We can help create and foster a better environment for the country to prosper and for everybody in the country to prosper.”