Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that he anticipates arrests in the multibillion-peso flood control fund scandal “before Christmas,” following nearly five months after initially revealing the scheme in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA). He conveyed this expectation during a Palace press briefing, stating that many of those implicated will likely have their cases concluded, leading to their imprisonment.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Office of the Ombudsman has filed multiple graft and malversation cases against officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and several contractors. These charges relate to ghost projects, overpricing, and bid rigging in flood control programs across Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, and Mindanao.
The first criminal complaints were filed on September 8, targeting projects identified through special audit reports by the DPWH and Commission on Audit (COA). Accused individuals include former Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) officials and several private contractors. Additionally, the Department of Budget and Management has blacklisted nine companies linked to Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya, terminating their Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registration.
President Marcos mentioned that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has referred 37 more cases to the Ombudsman, involving lawmakers, former DPWH executives, and major contractors. The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has filed 12 cases of bid-rigging and collusion, with potential penalties ranging from PHP3 billion to PHP5 billion. The Professional Regulation Commission has been tasked with sanctioning engineers involved in falsified project designs and supervision.
On October 23, the Ombudsman filed additional charges involving officials from La Union 2nd DEO and Davao Occidental DEO. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has also filed tax evasion cases totaling PHP8.86 billion against contractors and DPWH and COA officials, backed by extensive asset and tax audits.
Marcos emphasized that the investigations aim to build solid cases, not symbolic prosecutions. At a separate venue, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. praised the President for clearing former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez from any involvement in the scam. Abante highlighted the importance of evidence-based prosecutions, noting that no substantial evidence has implicated Romualdez.
The legislator reiterated his support for the administration’s anti-corruption initiatives and reforms to enhance oversight of infrastructure spending.
