Ombudsman to urge France not to shelter PH officials facing charges, ill-gotten wealth

September 7, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he is set to fly to France soon to tell its authorities not to let their country be a haven for officials facing charges or for ill-gotten wealth.

“Ang Pranses ay hindi dapat maging taguan ng mga mandarambong,” Remulla said in a press conference.

Asked what prompted his impending trip, Remulla said former lawmaker Zaldy Co and Sen. Loren Legarda are in France.

Malacañang earlier said that Co, who is facing charges in the Philippines in connection with the flood control corruption scandal, has sought asylum in France.

Legarda flew to France after filing for medical leave in the Senate. She is under investigation by the Ombudsman over her son’s solar franchise.

“Ito nagiging trend na, na baka doon ang taguan nila. Paliliitin natin ang mundo. Paliliitin natin iyan,” Remulla told reporters.

He described France as one of the “very liberal states.”

“Pero pag nakita nila na magkakaroon sila ng reputation na taguan ng ill-gotten wealth, tingin ko aayawan din sila ng mga taong bayan doon,” he said.

He said he would talk to France’s justice ministry and to other related agencies.

“You don’t warn them, but you tell them that it’s not good to have the reputation of being the hiding place of ill-gotten wealth, wealth stolen from people who could have used the money to improve the lives of those in need,” he said.