Manila: A special division in the Sandiganbayan to handle ghost flood control projects is among the matters to be discussed by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla when he meets with magistrates of the anti-graft court next week. 'I will ask the Sandiganbayan and, of course, the Supreme Court if we will need a special (Sandiganbayan) division,' Remulla said in a press briefing. He said the dialogue would also tackle the Sandiganbayan's other 'possible requests.'

According to Philippines News Agency, the Ombudsman disclosed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is eyeing one individual, out of several individuals who have applied for the government witness protection program (WPP) in the past few weeks, as a possible state witness. He said the WPP examined the sheer number of offenses committed by the applicants to determine who would qualify, but declined to name the qualified individual. 'Mayroon kami isa na na-consider (We have one individual under consideration). Marami nag-a-apply (Many are applying), but the witness protection program was not created for a multitude of crimes done by one person. Usually, a would-be state witness is one that is least guilty and for one or two acts or incidents, not like in these cases, which involves hundreds of different cases,' he said.

Remulla said out of the initial 100 to 200 individuals potentially liable in the flood control project corruption scandal, about 15 are 'ripe for prosecution.' He also defended the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) from critics who are claiming that it is just duplicating the tasks of prosecutors and the Ombudsman, and is needlessly delaying the cases. 'The ICI is functioning very well, and the information they give us is vetted, so it's a step faster for the Ombudsman. Maganda yan, kasi pag pasok, meron na silang hinanda (It's good because once they file it before the Ombudsman, they are prepared). I think that helps,' he said.