The Philippine government’s investigation into alleged irregularities in flood-control projects intensifies, with dozens of criminal cases filed against public officials, contractors, and other individuals.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published November 11, 2026
MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed 79 criminal cases in Philippine courts tied to the multi-billion peso flood control corruption scandal, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Friday.
The cases comprise two plunder cases, 22 of malversation of public funds, and 55 violations of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Remulla said plunder and malversation involving amounts above P8.8 million are non-bailable. The projects covered by the pending cases total P10.78 billion, though Remulla said the amount involved overall is much larger and his office is working with the evidence it has so far.
The 79 cases name 67 accused: one senator, one former senator, four congressmen, one former congressman, a former Public Works secretary, 39 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel, nine contractors, two congressional staff and nine private individuals. (gmanetwork)
Remulla also said prosecutors have filed 57 cases unrelated to flood control, involving 138 respondents and about P13 billion in public funds.
The tally has grown over the past month. On Oct. 12, marking his first year in office, Remulla reported 39 flood control cases, 35 filed before the Sandiganbayan and four before regional trial courts. As of September, the Sandiganbayan counted 26 flood control cases from the Ombudsman, the first of which, involving former lawmaker Zaldy Co, was filed in November 2025.
Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg told senators that some of the first cases filed are already at the defense stage. The court has also said it expects decisions on the cases involving lawmakers and their alleged cohorts within the year.
The accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
