More than 40 individuals implicated in flood control anomalies in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro are set to face non-bailable criminal charges and could be jailed as early as November this year, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon disclosed on Thursday, Nov. 13.
Dizon said the charges related to the anomalous projects are expected to be filed soon.
In Bulacan, 26 people—including the Discayas and Henry Alcantara—are among those implicated.
Meanwhile, 15 individuals in Mindoro, including former congressman Zaldy Co and his company, are also expected to face jail time, Dizon added.
“Hindi na maghihintay ng Disyembre. Ngayon lang November ay may makukulong na,” Dizon stressed, underscoring that the cases are non-bailable.
Co has yet to return to the Philippines following the controversy.
His legal counsel, Ruy Rondain, claimed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla prejudged his client.
Co continues to deny wrongdoing and intends to respond in the proper forum.
Meanwhile, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is prioritizing 80 of the initial 421 flood control projects under investigation, ICI special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said.
“Out of the 421, we are prioritizing the 80 projects na ang involved diyan are the 15 or 18 na contractors na minention ni [President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.] (Out of the 421 projects, we are prioritizing 80, which involve the 15 or 18 contractors mentioned by [President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.]),” Azurin said.
He noted that bid documents are being gathered with the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). (Trixee Rosel)
