Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has publicly disclosed shocking attempts to bribe him and his brother, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, with a staggering P1 billion each. The alleged bribes were intended to sway the officials regarding their involvement in investigations into anomalous flood control projects.
Two Separate Multi-Billion Peso Offers
In a press conference held on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Secretary Remulla detailed two distinct instances where massive bribes were proffered. The first attempt occurred approximately two weeks prior, involving a member of the House of Representatives from Luzon. This lawmaker, who also owns a construction company, directly offered P1 billion to each of the Remulla brothers.
The second attempt happened just three days before the press conference. This time, a contractor based in the Visayas region approached the Secretary with a similar P1-billion offer. Remulla emphasized that both overtures were firmly rejected.
Immediate Reporting to President Marcos
Following the brazen attempts, Secretary Remulla stated that he and his brother promptly reported the incidents to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.. He explained that the individuals likely believed they could "buy" their way out of potential legal cases related to the flood control projects by influencing the two brothers.
"They probably thought they could buy their case from us siblings regarding the flood control [projects], so they think the key lies with the two of us. The key lies with their lawyers to defend them in court. If you only bribe us, you will get nowhere," Remulla asserted during the conference.
Why No Arrests Were Made
Addressing potential public questions, the Secretary clarified why the individuals were not immediately arrested. He described the offers as "deniable" because they were not recorded transactions. No physical money was presented, making the interactions akin to mere storytelling without concrete evidence for an immediate legal sting operation.
"You might ask why we did not arrest the person who attempted to bribe us. It is deniable because it was not recorded. It was merely mentioned—no money was shown. It was like someone just telling me a story," Remulla explained. He, however, left no doubt about their stance: "But safe to say, refused both times. We did not agree. We will not allow ourselves to be bought."
The revelation underscores the intense scrutiny and alleged corruption surrounding major government infrastructure projects in the Philippines. It also highlights the high-stakes pressure on officials overseeing investigations into these projects. The administration's next steps in following up on these reported bribery attempts are now awaited by the public.
