₱2 billion Bribe Offered to Jonvic and Crispin Remulla

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that he and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla were offered P2 billion each to influence cases involving a congressman and a contractor linked to alleged flood control anomalies. The offer was rejected by both officials.

“A contractor and a congressman-contractor want us to help them in their case – removed from the list, or allowed to post bail,” Remulla said.

He declined to name the individuals but said one is connected with a group from Luzon while the other is from the Visayas and Mindanao.

Remulla explained that the lawmaker and the contractor sought help in securing favorable outcomes in their cases. According to him, an emissary of the Luzon congressman, who is also a contractor, communicated the offer through a friend about two weeks ago, while the second offer came from a contractor in the Visayas three to four days ago.

“They think we hold the key to their being cleared. But it’s their lawyers actually who hold the key to their defense before the courts,” Remulla said in Filipino at a news briefing.

Remulla said he rejected the bribe outright, while his brother felt insulted when informed of the offer. Upon learning of the P2 billion proposal, his brother blurted out: “Is that how low they think of us?”

When asked why they did not file cases for the bribe attempt, Remulla said the alleged principals would likely deny the offer and call it hearsay, since only intermediaries were involved. He added that he does not personally know the lawmakers involved.

“Don’t even try, because it won’t work,” Remulla said, emphasizing that the disclosure serves as a warning to those involved in corruption.