Philippine police are preparing to arrest 18 individuals in connection with a significant corruption scandal involving flood control projects. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
announced that warrants have been issued by the Sandiganbayan, an anti-corruption court, for former lawmaker Zaldy Co and 17 others, including government engineers and executives from Sunwest Corp. These individuals are implicated in irregularities concerning a flood control project in Oriental Mindoro province, valued at 289 million pesos.
Prosecutors are seeking no bail for the suspects due to the magnitude of the alleged corruption. The corruption scandal has led to widespread public protests and has forced several implicated congressional leaders to resign.
The faulty or non-existent flood control projects are particularly concerning in a country highly vulnerable to typhoons and extreme weather. President Marcos Jr.
stated that these arrests are just the beginning and assured the public that no one would be spared and no special treatment would be given. Investigations are ongoing, with at least five former and incumbent senators reportedly under scrutiny for allegedly receiving kickbacks related to these projects.
Several prominent figures, including those allied with and opposed to President Marcos, are implicated. Aides have defended the president, stating he first raised concerns about these irregularities in July.
The investigation covers a vast number of flood control projects worth over 545 billion pesos initiated since Marcos took office in mid-2022, with estimates suggesting up to 118.5 billion pesos may have been lost to corruption.
