By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has vowed to intensify the Philippine government’s campaign to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth stashed in the United States, declaring that the country should no longer be a sanctuary for assets illegally acquired from the Philippines.
Remulla made the commitment during a town hall meeting with members of the Filipino community at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on June 22, alongside Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez.
“We are here to make sure the US is no longer a safe haven for ill-gotten wealth from the Philippines. We will do what we can to recover all that has been hidden here in the US,” the Ombudsman said in a statement released Friday.
While he did not identify any individuals or ongoing cases linked to the effort, Remulla underscored the Office of the Ombudsman’s determination to strengthen international cooperation in tracing, freezing, and recovering assets believed to have been unlawfully taken from the country.
He also outlined the agency’s continuing reforms aimed at improving transparency, expanding access to public services, and reinforcing institutional accountability.
According to Remulla, these initiatives are anchored on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which promotes effective, accountable, and inclusive public institutions as a foundation of good governance.
The Washington engagement followed Remulla’s participation in the 7th Global Conference on SDG 16 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on June 18, where he discussed the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to combat high-level corruption.
During his address at the conference, the Ombudsman cited the government’s investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control project scandal, noting that the probe has resulted in criminal charges against several individuals and lawmakers, the freezing of assets, travel restrictions, and cases now pending before the Sandiganbayan.
“Today, the Philippines is facing significant governance challenges, including complex investigations involving public infrastructure projects,” Remulla said.
He acknowledged that confronting systemic corruption presents enormous challenges but stressed that such situations also provide an opportunity to strengthen institutions and restore public confidence.
“When weaknesses are exposed, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to correct them,” Remulla said, emphasizing that meaningful reforms are essential to ensuring accountability and protecting public resources.
ia/xf
