Amid the Flood Control Mess in PH, Marcos Jr. Gives an Update to Filipinos
MARCOS JR. – The President gave another report on the flood control investigation in the Philippines announcing the issuance of arrest warrants against Zaldy Co and 17 other individuals.
Several congressmen and senators were tagged in the flood control mess in the Philippines and it left countless Filipinos dismayed. Last September 21, thousands of people in different regions joined the “Trillion Peso March” to protest against corruption.
Among the government personalities tagged in the flood control issue are Zaldy Co and presidential cousin and Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez who resigned from being a House Speaker amid the flood control corruption accusations against them. In the case of Co, he is currently out of the country and has refused to return and face the allegations against him.
Amid the flood control issue in the country, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the creation of an independent commission to investigate the supposed multi-billion corruption. It led to the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure or also called ICI is a three-member body led by former Justice Andres Reyes Jr. The commission has submitted a recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman for the filing of cases against some individuals tagged in the flood control issue.
Recently, amid the continued call for accountability, Marcos Jr. gave an update about the flood control investigation in the Philippines. Through a video posted on his social media account, the President announced that the Ombudsman has officially filed charges against Zaldy Co and 17 others who are 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 Marcos Jr., the cases are based on the pieces of evidence submitted by the ICI and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). He stressed that the charges are not based on hearsays.
“Hindi po ito haka-haka. Hindi po ito kuwento. Ito po ay tunay na ebidensya,” Marcos Jr. said.
Through the post, Pres. Bongbong Marcos thanked the Filipinos for their patience in waiting for the process of the flood control investigation. Now that arrest warrants have been issued, he also bared the next steps of the government against the accused.
“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.
Marcos Jr. stressed that he was the one who opened up about the flood control issue and he will be the one who will finish it. Based on the post, the President once again thanked the Filipinos and claimed that their patience has led to results.
“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.