Progressive groups have called on the Office of the Ombudsman to immediately file charges against Senator Joel Villanueva and others implicated in the controversial flood control scandal. During a protest by the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) at the Ombudsman office, the group emphasized that more than two weeks have passed since Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that a plunder case against the senator was “ripe” or ready for filing.
According to SPARK PUP Coordinator John Christian Ancheta, they are concerned that the delay coincides with Villanueva’s appearance in a special session led by the new Senate Majority bloc. The group fears that the Ombudsman may hesitate to pursue the complaint or downgrade it to a bailable offense.
Protesters called for accountability from the Ombudsman for allegedly slowing down the process instead of swiftly prosecuting those involved in the anomaly. In 2025, Villanueva’s name surfaced in the issue after former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara claimed the senator received ₱150 million in kickbacks for a ₱600-million multi-purpose building project in the province—allegations the senator strongly denied.
