Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced plans to send a formal letter to Senate President Tito Sotto, urging the enforcement of a 2016 dismissal order against Senator Joel Villanueva.
The order, issued nearly a decade ago by then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, stemmed from allegations that Villanueva misused his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) during his term as a representative of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list.
Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman intends to ensure that long-standing administrative rulings are carried out regardless of the time elapsed.
Villanueva, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, previously challenged the Ombudsman’s findings, asserting that the funds in question were properly utilized.
The renewed push to implement the order comes amid heightened scrutiny of accountability among public officials, reviving one of the more controversial corruption cases linked to the PDAF scandal.
