Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed that the 2016 dismissal order against Sen. Joel Villanueva was already overturned by former Ombudsman Samuel Martires in July 2019.
Remulla said he learned about the reversal only after Villanueva sent his brother a copy of the 2019 ruling.
Because of this, Remulla will no longer ask the Senate to enforce the 2016 order linked to Villanueva’s alleged pork barrel misuse.
The Ombudsman, however, questioned why the decision was kept hidden for years.
“Lumabas lang siya nung sinabi kong may gagawin ang Ombudsman tungkol diyan. So it’s a surprise, secret decision that came out,” he told reporters.
He described Martires’ ruling as “very mysterious,” noting that it was never made public despite its importance.
Remulla denied that his plan to enforce the 2016 case was harassment, saying he only acted based on what he believed was still valid.
“It’s not harassment. It’s something that everybody thinks to be still valid that turned out to be not valid anymore due to a secret decision,” he said, adding that his office will study the 2019 ruling further.IMT
