Elizabeth Marcelo – The Philippine Star
February 3, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is set to challenge the House of Representatives after its secretary-general’s office reportedly required plenary approval before releasing the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of several lawmakers under investigation in the flood control scam.
“Lately, our team is having a hard time getting the SALNs of congressmen we are investigating, because the secretary-general’s office is saying, or I’ve been told, that it has to pass the plenary before they release a SALN,” Remulla said yesterday at a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.
“I don’t buy this excuse. Actually, I am about to sign a letter to the Speaker protesting the manner by which the secretary general’s office is conducting its affairs,” he added.
Remulla emphasized that there is no rule requiring plenary approval for the release of SALNs.
“They said the permission still has to go through the plenary. That’s not how it works. I used to be in Congress. I know the plenary inside and out. We don’t do that,” he said.
The ombudsman said obtaining the SALNs is crucial to resolving the so-called “cong-tractor” controversy, which involves potential conflicts of interest under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
“We need their SALNs, because we must resolve this controversy, which is primarily an issue of conflict of interest. It’s under the Code of Ethical Standards in the government. You should not have any conflict of interest (if you are a public official),” Remulla said.
He also confirmed the investigation into former House speaker Rep. Martin Romualdez is ongoing.
“We are doing everything. We are already advanced in that sense. We are just quiet with what we do, we cannot broadcast everything we do, because, as I have said before, we are going against well-paid lawyers,” he said.
Remulla previously confirmed that his office is probing alleged links between Romualdez and contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya, who reportedly acted as fronts in the purchase of a Makati City property by the former House speaker.
