Manila: Malaca±ang said Thursday investigations and court proceedings involving alleged ghost and substandard government flood control projects continue, with several cases already progressing through the judicial process.
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that law enforcement agencies remain focused on investigating questionable flood control projects and pursuing cases against those implicated in the controversy. Castro noted that several cases have already been filed in court, with some of the accused already facing charges while others are undergoing trial.
"Marami pa rin pong pag-iimbestigang ginagawa. 'Yung iba po nasa korte na, 'yung iba po ay na-arraign na at 'yung iba naman ay mayroon nang mga sinasalang na mga witnesses (Many investigations are ongoing. Some cases are already in court, some accused individuals have already been arraigned, while others already have witnesses being presented)," she told Palace reporters.
Castro made the statement in response to questions regarding the status of investigations into the flood control scandal and the alleged perpetrators. The government has been pursuing accountability measures over alleged anomalies in flood mitigation projects, particularly the misuse of public funds intended to protect communities from flooding.
When asked about fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, Castro said updates should come from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), citing the operational nature of the case. Malaca±ang earlier said efforts to locate Co continue despite the archiving of his case by the Sandiganbayan 7th Division, stressing that law enforcement agencies remain duty-bound to arrest him.
In November 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a graft case against Co over the allegedly anomalous PHP289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. Co served as the chairperson of the House of Representatives' Appropriations Committee during the finalization of the 2025 national budget.
In September 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 94, establishing the now-defunct Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) tasked with investigating the questionable flood control projects. The ICI earlier submitted its accomplishment report to Marcos, detailing its activities and achievements from Sept. 15, 2025 to Jan. 18, 2026.
The commission has filed nine referrals to the Office of the Ombudsman, coordinated the referral of 66 individuals to the DOJ, and contributed to the freezing of 6,692 bank accounts estimated at PHP24.7 billion.
