Remulla: Legislation to make government transactions more transparent needed

National

OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla is pushing for legislation that would require government transactions to be digitally recorded and made accessible to the public, from the barangay level to the executive department.

Remulla said greater transparency should cover government contracts, permits, salaries, procurement and bidding processes to allow the public to monitor how government funds are used.

“From barangay to executive. It should be a duty for the people to record everything digitally and transparency is promoted,” Remulla said during a town hall meeting with employees of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in Cebu City on Monday, Aug. 10.

He said existing technology, including mobile phones, closed-circuit television cameras, artificial intelligence and social media, could be used to make government transactions more transparent.

Remulla said bidding processes, in particular, should be recorded and made available to the public through digital platforms.

He said transparency must also reach local governments because corruption tolerated at the grassroots level can eventually be accepted at higher levels of government.

Remulla said his views on public service were shaped by growing up in a political family and witnessing the risks and challenges his father faced in public office.

His father, Juanito “Johnny” Remulla Sr., served as a provincial board member, delegate to the Constitutional Convention and later governor of Cavite.

Remulla recalled that Cavite was a violent place when he was growing up and that his family once had to hide after his father took a stand against notorious Cavite outlaw Nardong Putik.

The experience, Remulla said, exposed him early to the dangers that could come with public service.

He also recalled how his father prioritized infrastructure and basic services after becoming governor in 1979.

Among the improvements he cited were the Cavite Coastal Road, the governor’s road toward Puerto Azul and changes in the province’s electricity supply.

Remulla said better infrastructure, peace and order and improved access to electricity helped attract investors and create jobs in Cavite.

He said the province eventually transformed from an area with limited infrastructure into one of the country’s leading provinces.

For Remulla, the experience showed how government can improve people's lives when public projects are properly planned and implemented.

As Ombudsman, he said his office must help create an environment where government spending promotes development instead of becoming an avenue for corruption.

Against this backdrop, Remulla said the Ombudsman will examine more than P60 billion allocated for flood control projects in Cebu over the past six years.

He said about 20% of the amount went to Cebu’s 7th District, while around 25% went to a single contractor.

The 7th District covers Alcantara, Alegria, Badian, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Moalboal and Ronda.

Remulla said the amount spent on flood control should have made a significant difference, particularly after flooding affected parts of Cebu in recent weeks.

“That’s a lot of money to control the flooding but apparently, the past month, flooding happened again here in Cebu,” he said during a press conference after the town hall.

The Ombudsman will examine whether the problems resulted from project design, execution or possible corruption.

“We have to look at what’s happening. Is it the design? Is it the execution? Or is it just corruption? We will find out and we will know,” Remulla said.

Investigators will start with areas that experienced flooding and examine the flood control projects implemented there.

The Office of the Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas and district engineers will also be placed under scrutiny.

The Ombudsman will use digital tools to verify whether reported flood control projects actually exist.

Remulla said investigators will examine project coordinates and use available technology to determine whether projects were built, whether they are substandard or whether they could be “ghost” projects.

He said investigators would also examine project contracts and technical specifications, noting that flood control investigations can be difficult because of the volume and complexity of the documents involved.

Remulla said investigators cannot rely solely on conclusions drawn from initial observations.

“It’s easy to conclude, but to prove is harder. And my job is to prove,” he said.

He also stressed that the Ombudsman would not immediately name individuals or file cases simply because allegations had been made.

“We cannot file cases just like that. Or put people in jail just like that. We need the evidence,” Remulla said.

The investigation comes amid a broader government probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects nationwide.

Remulla said the Ombudsman’s investigation will not be limited to flood control projects.

He said the office is also looking into other government spending and transactions that could be vulnerable to corruption.

These include government procurement and bidding, electricity-related projects, solar projects and other schemes involving government funds.

Remulla said all bidding processes should be recorded and made accessible to the public, saying existing digital technology makes this possible.

He also raised concerns about conflicts of interest involving public officials and contractors.

Remulla said situations in which elected officials also become contractors, or contractors enter politics, can create conflicts of interest and undermine public service.

He said the Ombudsman would also examine transactions at the local government level, including permits, contracts and business and licensing processes.

For Remulla, corruption must be addressed across government rather than through isolated investigations of high-profile cases.

He said the Ombudsman is looking at the “universe” of government transactions where public funds could be diverted or misused.

To strengthen its investigative capacity in the region, Remulla said the Ombudsman plans to hire 20 additional lawyers for the Ombudsman-Visayas.

The lawyers will support fact-finding, prosecution and criminal investigation work.

Remulla said the additional personnel are needed as the office expands its investigations and seeks to ensure that cases are supported by evidence before they are filed.

Remulla urged Filipinos to become more engaged in issues involving government and public funds.

He cited the support Filipinos have shown for tennis player Alex Eala, who recently won her first WTA Tour title, as an example of how Filipinos can rally around something positive for the country.

“The Filipinos are all there, cheering their own, looking for a hero, looking for something good about our country,” Remulla said.(MyTVCebu)