Ombudsman
SC voids Duterte's dismissal of deputy ombudsman Carandang
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The Supreme Court has voided former president Rodrigo Duterte's 2018 dismissal of overall deputy ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang. The court awarded Carandang backwages and retirement benefits up to the end of his 2020 term. The Third Division ruled on January 29, 2026, that the president lacks disciplinary authority over a deputy ombudsman.
Department of Health Undersecretary Glenn Mathew Baggao faces graft and administrative complaints before the Ombudsman over an alleged conflict of interest in health infrastructure projects awarded to his brother's firm. A group of concerned health workers filed the complaint on Thursday, April 30, 2026. They accuse Baggao of using his position to influence fund allocation.
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Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla insisted he will not inhibit from the probe linking former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the flood control scandal. He confirmed a Court of Appeals freeze order on Romualdez's assets and warned of more cases to come. Hold departure orders were also sought against former Senate President Francis Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu.
A coalition of activists filed a graft complaint with the Ombudsman on Monday, March 30, against former undersecretaries Adrian Bersamin and Trygve Olaivar over an alleged multibillion-peso kickback scheme in flood control projects. The complaint draws from testimonies by former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. The Ombudsman is also investigating them for plunder conspiracy.
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House senior deputy minority leader and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said the Commission on Elections should have referred Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s statement of contributions and expenditures case to the National Bureau of Investigation and Office of the Ombudsman. She noted Comelec absolved him because the offense under Section 109 of the Omnibus Election Code was decriminalized by Republic Act 7166. Still, she said perjury and graft charges could apply.
Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday dismissed the recent plunder charges filed against her over confidential funds as a 'fishing expedition' designed to deflect criticism from flood control failures. She accused critics of manufacturing legitimacy for probes while no one is held accountable for other public fund misuse.
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The Ombudsman is set to file malversation or plunder charges against former senator Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. over irregularities in flood control projects, potentially leading to an arrest before Christmas. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that there is sufficient evidence, calling the case a 'low-hanging fruit'.
Romualdez seeks Ombudsman's inhibition in flood control probe
April 22, 2026 18:02AMLC files 12 civil forfeiture cases on flood control anomalies
April 19, 2026 23:15Ombudsman requests SALNs of all House members
April 16, 2026 18:22Prosecutors hunt giver of Rp1.5 billion bribe to Ombudsman chief
April 14, 2026 01:31Ombudsman Remulla reveals kickback scheme in private hospitals
March 16, 2026 20:58NFO rejects homeowner's boundary wall damage claim
March 11, 2026 03:14Marcoleta SALN complaint complicates Comelec probe
February 10, 2026 20:48Ombudsman struggles to obtain lawmakers' SALNs
January 15, 2026 10:19Remulla blames Villanueva's counsel for recantation claims
January 01, 2026 13:42Flood control scam raps filed; no big fish