Manila: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla announced that more high-profile individuals involved in the flood control corruption scandal are expected to face arrest in the coming weeks.
According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla stated that prominent figures, including senators and congressmen, will be apprehended sequentially over the next five weeks. He emphasized that there will be no special treatment, alluding to the luxurious La Catedral prison in Colombia that housed cartel leader Pablo Escobar.
Currently, six of the eight arrested suspects are detained at the New Quezon City Jail male dormitory in Payatas. These individuals include Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Felisardo Casuno, and engineer Dennis Abagon. Lerma Cayco is held at the Camp Caringal female dormitory. They are all set to face trial for plunder, anti-graft violations, and indirect bribery before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Juliet Calvo, another suspect, has been granted bail for document falsification and will appear before the 5th Division of the Office of the Ombudsman. Remulla warned those suspects who are still at large in the United States and Qatar to surrender to the nearest Philippine embassy by Thursday.
The search for the alleged mastermind, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, has proven difficult due to his possession of dual passports. Tracker teams from the Philippine National Police have been dispatched following confirmed sightings of Co in various countries, including the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Director Ruel Rivera assured that all detained suspects will receive equal treatment in terms of food, medical services, and visitation rights.
In a parallel development, the Philippine National Police warned against aiding the accused. Acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez indicated that authorities will file charges against anyone found assisting the suspects. He urged the public to let justice proceed without interference, highlighting the importance of accountability and legal compliance.
