FLOOD CONTROL SCAM ‘BIG FISH’ TO BE ARRESTED SOON – PALACE

MALACAÑANG assured Tuesday that high-level personalities implicated in the misuse of flood control funds will be charged and arrested in the next few days.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez said the Office of the Ombudsman is expected to file more cases before the Sandiganbayan, after the first one filed last November 18 against ex-Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and 15 others for a substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

“Tandaan natin, isang kaso palang ito ‘yung sa Oriental Mindoro. Marami pang isasampa in the next few days at sigurado ako kasama na diyan ‘yung mga big fish,” Gomez said in an interview over dzRH radio.

The PCO chief reiterated President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment that those involved in the scam will be arrested and put behind bars before Christmas.

“Itong huling kasong sinampa, may isang malaking balyena na tayong kinasuhan, si Rep. Zaldy Co. So, marami pa, marami pa sa darating na araw bago mag-Pasko,” Gomez stressed.

President Marcos has also emphasized the importance of building airtight cases to ensure that the charges would pass scrutiny and result in the conviction of the liable parties.

Warrants of arrest have been issued against Zaldy Co and 15 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa regional office and Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation for an anomalous flood control project in the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the charges based on the evidence gathered by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) created by President Marcos and the DPWH.

Nine of the accused have been arrested and brought before the Sandiganbayan while Co and six other accused remain at-large and subject of police manhunt.

The PCO chief reiterated that President Marcos will see through the end the investigation he initiated to stop the corruption in DPWH projects and hold accountable those who abuse public funds.