Jonvic claims P1 billion bribe try to stop flood control probe

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January 14, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Some personalities implicated in the anomalous flood control project have allegedly offered P1 billion to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and his brother Ombudsman Jesus Crisipin Remulla to stop the probe.

“Someone came to me through an intermediary, offering the two of us P1 billion to stop investigating them,” Remulla said in an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel.

Remulla said he and his brother rejected the offer and told the emissary to just give the money to their lawyers.

“We said no deal. I was quite shocked,” Remulla said.

Remulla said the government has so far frozen over P20 billion in illegally acquired wealth from anomalous flood control projects.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has prepared detention facilities at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for those who would be ordered arrested in connection with the flood control scandal.

Remulla said the public should expect more cases to be filed against those involved in flood control anomalies.

“I think the cases will progress. A lot is currently happening,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Marcos has directed law enforcement agencies to look into all legal avenues to bring back resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, a key personality in the flood control scandal believed to be hiding in Portugal.

Remulla noted the Philippines has no extradition treaty with Portugal, but other legal means may be tapped to repatriate Co.

“We are studying other avenues on how we will do it,” he said in a phone patch interview with Palace reporters yesterday.

Co, who used to represent the Ako Bicol party-list, is facing an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan in relation to a questionable flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Also ordered arrested were at least 15 other persons from the Department of Public Works and Highways and construction company Sunwest Corp. who were indicted by the ombudsman with graft and malversation of public funds.

The former lawmaker is said to have left the Philippines for a medical check-up on July 19, a few days before the President sought an investigation into anomalous flood control structures during his fourth State of the Nation Address.

Remulla said the government may coordinate with the International Criminal Police Organization, the United Nations or other agencies as it finds ways to repatriate Co.

He added that seeking an extradition treaty with Portugal is “almost impossible.”

“It (extradition) will take too long. A treaty takes years and years, so the other avenues possible are being studied,” the Interior chief said. — Alexis Romero