MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has intensified the government’s manhunt for individuals implicated in the alleged P289.5-million flood control scam in Oriental Mindoro, as seven of the accused are now in custody and more are preparing to surrender.
Marcos announced the latest development on Monday, emphasizing that the arrests mark only the beginning of a broader crackdown on what he earlier described as a deeply entrenched scheme to rig flood-control projects nationwide.
“Ipinapaalam ko po na ilan sa mga indibidwal na may warrant of arrest mula sa Sandiganbayan ay nasa kustodiya na ng ating mga awtoridad,” the President said, confirming that arrests began shortly after warrants were issued last week.
The case involves former Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co, 10 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and five executives of Sunwest Inc., a company owned by Co. The charges include graft and malversation linked to the costly and allegedly fraudulent flood-control project.
Mugshots released by the Presidential Communications Office identified the arrested DPWH officials as:
* Gerald Pacanan, regional director, DPWH Region IV-B
* Gene Ryan Alurin Altea, assistant regional director of Region IV-B and current DPWH Bureau of Maintenance director
* Ruben Delos Santos Jr., assistant regional director, Region IV-B
* Dominic Gregorio Serrano, chief of Construction Division, Region IV-B
* Felisardo Sevare Casuno, project engineer III, Region IV-B
* Juliet Cabungan Calvo, chief of Maintenance Division, Region IV-B
Marcos said one suspect was caught by the National Bureau of Investigation, while six others surrendered to the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Two more suspects have notified authorities of their intent to surrender.
In all, seven suspects are now held by the government, two are securing arrangements to turn themselves in, and seven — including Co — remain at large.
The President issued a stern warning to those still evading arrest.
“Sa lahat ng natitirang akusado, ang aking payo: sumuko na kayo. Huwag na ninyong hintaying habulin pa kayo,” he said. “Mananagot ang sinumang nagtatago o tumutulong magtago sa kanila.”
Marcos added that all arrested and surrendered suspects will be detained at the National Bureau of Investigation pending formal court directives, stressing that there will be “no special treatment.”
The arrests come as multiple bodies — including the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the DPWH, the Commission on Audit, and the Ombudsman — pursue parallel investigations into the alleged scam, first exposed by the President in his July State of the Nation Address.
“Hindi kami titigil. Hindi kami hihinto,” Marcos said, reiterating his vow to ensure that all those involved are held accountable “before Christmas.”/PN
