President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has confirmed that one suspect has been arrested and six others have voluntarily surrendered following warrants issued by the Sandiganbayan in relation to an allegedly anomalous P289.5 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
The case stems from charges filed against former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a contracting firm.
The personally announced the enforcement of the warrants, highlighting that the action demonstrates the administration’s resolve against graft.
The arrested individual has been identified as a DPWH engineer. The engineer was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), while the six who surrendered are reportedly lower-ranking officials and personnel connected to the project. They surrendered to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The President stressed that all those in custody—totaling seven—will be accorded no “special treatment,” and law enforcement efforts are intensifying to locate the remaining individuals charged, including Co.