Palace Press Official Dave Gomez Speaks on Flood Control Probe
PALACE – Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez spoke on the flood control investigation following the vow of President Bongbong Marcos.
Several House members, senators, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were linked to the flood control issue in the Philippines. One of them is resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co who has yet to return to the country amid the accusations against him. He is the former chairman of the House Budget Appropriations Committee.
Zaldy Co tagged President Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the budget insertion mess. According to him, the President and the former House Speaker allegedly ordered a P100-billion insertion in the 2025 national budget.
Malacañang was quick to defend Marcos Jr. from the allegations of Co. According to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, the former House Member allegedly wants the investigation to stop so he tagged the President in the corruption issue.
The Malacañang press official also challenged Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines and make his testimony under an oath. Marcos Jr. also told Co to face the accusations as he remains in the country amid his allegations.
Previously, Pres. Bongbong Marcos vowed that a “big fish” is included in those who will be jailed due to the alleged flood control corruption. The Chief Executive claimed that more individuals linked to the supposed multi-billion flood control scam will be jailed before Christmas.
Controversial contractor Sarah Discaya was arrested and is currently detained over an alleged multi-million ghost flood control project. Some officials of the public works department are also under detention now.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Malacañang official Dave Gomez, the secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), stressed that the detention of the Discaya couple marks “an early phase” of the ongoing flood control investigation. He stressed that the probe does not end on Christmas Day.
“The flood control investigation does not end on Dec. 25. It’s only been a little over four months,” the Malacañang official said.
Dave Gomez assured that the Marcos Jr. administration will continue to chase accountability. Based on the report, the Malacañang official stressed that the Napoles investigation took around a year before arrests started taking place.
“The Napoles probe took almost a year before people were sent to jail. There will surely be more thrown behind bars in the New Year,” he said.
Previously, Department of Interior and Local Government or DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla also spoke on the Marcos Jr. admin’s pursuit for accountability over the flood control mess.