Pres. Bongbong Marcos Gives “Report” on Flood Control Investigation in PH
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President announced the issuance of arrest warrants against Zaldy Co and 17 others over the flood control mess.
The supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the Philippines left countless Filipinos disappointed by the government. Several senators and congressmen are accused of alleged involvement in the issue. Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez were tagged in the issue.
It was Zaldy Co who accused Marcos Jr. and Romualdez of allegedly inserting P100 billion in the 2025 national budget and supposedly receiving all the P56 billion kickback from it. According to him, he allegedly did not receive anything from the said budget insertion.
Zaldy Co is one of the accused in the flood control mess in the Philippines. However, he was already out of the country when the accusations against him broke out. In his latest claims, the resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative claimed that he was allegedly threated by former Speaker Martin Romualdez not to return to the country.
Amid his claim that he is worried over his safety, Ombudsman Boying Remulla assured that the government will ensure Zaldy Co’s protection if he decides to return to the country. However, based on the recent “report” from Pres. Bongbong Marcos, an arrest warrant has been issued against Co.
Through a post on social media, Marcos Jr. announced that Zaldy Co is one of the 18 individuals faced with an arrest warrants issued. According to the President, the Office of the Ombudsman has filed charges against Co and the following:
- Gerald Pacanan, DPWH Regional Director
- Gene Ryan Altea, DPWH Assistant Regional Director
- Ruben D.S. Santos, DPWH Assistant Regional Director
- Dominic Serrano, DPWH Chief, Construction Division; Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson
- Juliet Calvo, DPWH Chief, Maintenance Division
- Dennis Abagon, DPWH OIC-Chief, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division; Regular Member, BAC
- Montrexis Tamayo, DPWH OIC-Chief, Planning and Design Division
- Lerma Cayco, DPWH Accountant IV
- Felisardo Casuno, DPWH Project Engineer 3
- Timojen Sacar, DPWH Material Engineer
- Aderman Alcazar, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sunwest Construction
- Cesar Buenavntura,Treasurer and Member of the Board of Directors, Sunwest Construction
- Consuelo Aldon, Member of the Board of Directors, Sunwest Construction
- Engr. Noel Yap Cao, Member of the Board of Directors, Sunwest Construction and
- Anthony Ngo, Member of the Board of Directors, Sunwest Construction
According to Pres. Bongbong Marcos, the charges filed against Zaldy Co and 17 others were based on the pieces of evidence submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The Chief Executive stressed that the cases were not based on hearsays but allegedly on true evidence.
“Asahan po ninyo na wala pong tigil itong aming ginagawa. At kahit na parang napakatagal ang dumaan na panahon, ako’y nagpapasalamat sa pasensiya ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos claimed that there will be no special treatment. According to him, the next step would be the arrest of the individuals faced with flood control charges.
“At ang susunod na hakbang ay wala nang paligoy-ligoy pa. Ang ating mga awtoridad ay siyempre ipapatupad na nila itong mga arrest warrant na ito, aarestuhin na sila, ihaharap sa korte, at pananagutin sa batas. Walang special na pagtrato, walang sinasanto,” the President said.
According to Pres. Bongbong Marcos, he was the one who opened up about the flood control mess and he will be the one who will finish it. Based on the post, he thanked the Filipinos for their patience in waiting for the process which allegedly bore results now.
“Ako ang nagsimula nitong lahat, ako ang magtatapos. Kaya’t asahan po ninyo na walang pong tigil itong aming ginagawa at kahit na parang napakatagal ng dumaan na panahon ako’y nagpapasalamat sa pasensya ng ating mga kababayan. Ngunit nagbunga na ng resulta ang mga pasensya ninyo,” he expressed.
With regards to his cousin, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is also accused of flood control corruption, Pres. Bongbong Marcos has also spoken.