Palace: Flood works probe already has arrests; hunt continues

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro (Philippine News Agency/facebook)

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday rejected claims that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. failed to deliver on his pledge to hold accountable those involved in alleged flood control anomalies, citing arrests, issued warrants, and the recovery of illicit funds within months of the investigation.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President never named individuals when he earlier remarked that some people would not have a “merry Christmas,” but stressed that tangible enforcement actions had already been taken.

Castro said that in just over four months, the government has recorded unprecedented developments in corruption cases tied to flood control projects.

“Tandaan natin, sa mahigit na apat na buwan, may mga nakulong, may mga warrants of arrest na na-issue, may mga nagtago, mayroong nakikipag-usap at isinosoli ang karamihan sa kanilang mga kickbacks na hindi naganap, never na nangyari sa anumang administrasyon (But let us remember that in more than four months, there have been arrests, warrants of arrest issued, some have gone into hiding, and others are negotiating and returning most of their kickbacks—something that never happened under any administration),” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

Castro said those already detained clearly fell under the President’s remark.

“Ang pagsabi po niya na may mga taong hindi merry ang kanilang Christmas, yung mga nakulong po, definitely hindi naging merry ang kanilang Christmas (When he said some people would not have a merry Christmas, those who were jailed definitely did not have a merry Christmas),” she said.

She emphasized that the process is ongoing, with the President awaiting key resolutions.

“Hinihintay din po ng Pangulo ang magiging resolusyon ng Ombudsman at DOJ [Department of Justice]… hindi pa po natatapos ang termino ng Pangulo. Marami pa po ang mangyayari (The President is also waiting for the resolutions of the Ombudsman and the DOJ… the President’s term is not yet over. Many more things will happen),” Castro said.

Over a dozen individuals have already been detained, mostly officials and personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well as private contractors, including Cezarah Rowena ‘Sarah’ Discaya.

Former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who was tagged among those behind the anomalies, remains at large.

Asked about the status of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) investigating the anomalies, Castro said no replacement has been announced despite the departure of its key members.

“Sa ngayon wala pa po tayong update kung magkakaroon ng replacement. Sa kasalukuyan po nagtatrabaho pa rin ang mga nasa ICI (At present, there is no update on whether there will be a replacement. The ICI members are still working),” she said.

She added that the Ombudsman has committed to sustaining the probe.

“Nandiyan din ang Ombudsman na nangako na magpapatuloy nila… Patuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga (The Ombudsman is there and has promised to continue… The investigation is ongoing),” Castro said.