MANILA — The Philippine government signaled Tuesday that a widening corruption investigation into multibillion-peso flood control projects will soon ensnare prominent political figures, with Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla warning that “big fish,” including members of Congress and the influential Discaya family, face arrest within the next five weeks.
“Big fish are coming soon. We should expect the Discayas, senators, congressmen in the next five weeks — they will be arrested one after the other,” Remulla told reporters. “There is no ‘La Catedral’ here. They will be treated like everyone else.”
Remulla invoked the infamous luxury prison built for Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1990s to underscore that no special accommodations will be granted to high-profile suspects.
To date, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the scandal involving alleged plunder, graft, and bribery tied to Department of Public Works and Highways flood control contracts. Six men — Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Felisardo Casuno, and engineer Dennis Abagon — are being held at the New Quezon City Jail male dormitory in Payatas. Lerma Cayco is detained at the Camp Caringal female dormitory. A seventh detainee, Juliet Calvo, was allowed to post bail on charges of falsification of public documents.
The seven detainees awaiting trial on plunder and anti-graft charges will appear before the 6th and 7th Divisions of the Office of the Ombudsman, while Calvo’s case will be heard by the 5th Division.
Remulla said fugitives currently in the United States and Qatar have until Thursday to surrender at the nearest Philippine embassy, warning that authorities possess copies of their passports and will track them down. He identified former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, described as the alleged mastermind, as particularly difficult to locate because he holds dual passports. Philippine National Police tracker teams have confirmed Co’s recent travel to the United States, Europe, Singapore, Spain, Portugal, and Japan.
“Come home; you need to face the law,” Remulla said.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Director Ruel Rivera emphasized that the detained suspects are receiving identical treatment to ordinary inmates, including standard meals, water, 24-hour medical care, and visitation rights.
Separately, the Philippine National Police issued a stern warning to anyone sheltering the accused. Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said units executing arrest warrants have been ordered to file criminal charges against individuals found harboring fugitives.
“We understand the close ties among relatives and friends, but accountability and the rule of law must always prevail,” Nartatez said. “You don’t need to suffer and be dragged into this.”
The scandal has rocked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, with opposition figures accusing the government of using the probe to settle political scores while administration officials insist the crackdown demonstrates a renewed commitment to accountability regardless of status or connections.
