“Tapos na ang maliligayang araw n’yo. Hahabulin namin kayo,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned those implicated in the massive multi-billion peso flood control anomalies, declaring that their happy days are over and there will be no merry Christmas for them.
Speaking at a press conference at Malacañan on Thursday morning, Nov. 13, Marcos said some of the accused would be behind bars before the holidays.
“Palagay ko, bago—hindi palagay ko, alam ko—bago mag-Pasko, marami dito sa napangalanan ay matatapos na ang kaso, buo na ang ebidensya, makukulong na sila,” he said. “Wala silang merry Christmas. Before Christmas, makukulong na sila.”
The President’s remarks come amid mounting public frustration over the lack of accountability more than 100 days after he first exposed the infrastructure mess.
He appeared for his President’s Report three months after announcing an investigation into anomalous and non-existent or “ghost” flood control projects during his last State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In his report, Marcos reaffirmed the three core objectives of the probe led by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI): to hold perpetrators accountable, recover stolen funds, and implement systemic reforms.
“Mapapanagot ang mga kasabwat dito sa korapsyon. Pangalawa, mababawi ng gobyerno ang pera na ninakaw nila. Pangatlo, na gumawa tayo ng reporma para lahat na itong klaseng korapsyon na ito ay hindi na mauulit,” he said.
“Kaya’t yang mga taong ‘yan na kasabwat diyan, itong mga walang hiyang ito na nagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan—tapos na ang maliligaya ninyong araw. Hahabulin na namin kayo,” Marcos reiterated.
According to the President’s report, 37 individuals — including senators and congressmen, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, and contractors — have been referred to the Ombudsman for filing of criminal charges such as graft and corruption, malversation, falsification, and plunder; and administrative charges for violation of code of conduct for public officers.
Criminal charges have also been filed against six public officials and private entities before the Ombudsman.
Ten tax-evasion cases worth P8.86 billion were also lodged by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), involving 39 contractors and nine DPWH and Commission on Audit (COA) officials.
Fifteen bid-rigging cases have also been filed by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).
Sixteen licensed professionals have also been charged before the Professional Regulation Commission. (Betheena Unite)
