Arrest warrant issued vs Zaldy Co and 17 others over flood control scandal
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced that an arrest warrant has been issued against Zaldy Co and 17 others in connection with the flood control mess.
In a video published on Friday, Nov. 21, Marcos shared the development in the case, noting that the move was based on evidence laid out by the ICI and the DPWH.
"Hindi po ito haka-haka. Hindi po ito kwento. Ito po ay tunay na ebidensya," he stressed.
The President shared their next steps and stressed that no special treatment will be given to the culprits in the flood control scandal.
"Ang susunod na hakbang—wala ng paligoy-ligoy pa—ang ating mga awtoridad ay syempre, 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," he said.
"Ako ang nagsimula nitong lahat; ako ang magtatapos. Kaya asahan po ninyo na wala pong tigil itong aming ginagawa at kahit na parang napakatagal ang dumaan na panahon, ako'y nagpapasalamat sa pasensya ng ating mga kababayan ngunit nagbunga na ang resulta, ang mga pasensya ninyo."
The Ombudsman released a statement moments after the President's announcement.
"The Office of the Ombudsman welcomes the issuance of warrants of arrest against Zaldy Co and the 17 other accused in the corruption cases filed before the Sandiganbayan last Tuesday," it read.
"To the law enforcement agencies whose responsibility it is to effect the arrests—execute the warrants without delay. Ensure their immediate arrest and bring them before the bar of justice," it added.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation cases against Co as well as several officials of the DPWH and Sunwest Inc. on Nov. 18 in connection with anomalies in a P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. The charges involved malversation of public funds through the falsification of public documents, violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and a co-violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019.
Hearings at the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the ICI have revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption.
Marcos assured the public on Nov. 13 that there will be no happy holidays for officials involved as he vowed jail time for them before the year ends.
“Tapos na ang maliligaya ninyong araw,” Marcos said. “Hahabulin namin kayo.”
“Bago mag-Pasko, marami dito sa napangalanan dito, palagay ko matatapos na ang kaso nila, buo na ‘yung kaso. Makukulong na sila, wala silang Merry Christmas," he added.
