President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made a firm commitment that individuals charged with irregularities in flood control projects will face imprisonment before Christmas this year. The announcement came during a press conference at Malacañang on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
First Batch of Cases Filed with Ombudsman
The President revealed that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has already submitted its initial batch of case referrals to the Ombudsman last September. These cases involve no fewer than 37 individuals, including lawmakers, former officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and various contractors.
Among the names specifically mentioned by President Marcos were former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, former DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, and contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya. The charges brought against them include serious criminal offenses such as graft and corruption, malversation of public funds, falsification, and plunder, alongside administrative cases for violations of the Code of Conduct for public officials.
Strong Evidence Basis for All Cases
President Marcos emphasized that the government will only file cases with sufficient evidence to withstand judicial scrutiny. "Every case we file has sufficient evidence and will not end up being dismissed. We will hold all those at fault accountable," he stated firmly.
The administration is concentrating on three primary objectives in its anti-corruption drive: imprisoning those involved in government corruption, recovering stolen public money, and implementing reforms to prevent anomalies in government projects and corruption from recurring.
No Current Evidence Against Romualdez and Co
When questioned about whether his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, would face charges, President Marcos clarified that no concrete evidence currently links Romualdez to the alleged irregularities in flood control projects. "The only evidence that's been made against him is in the Senate. So with the Speaker, not as yet. But if something else comes out, then he will have to be answerable for it," the President explained.
Similarly, no case has been filed yet against former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, who has been identified as one of the alleged masterminds behind insertions in the 2025 national budget. President Marcos noted that Co's passport cannot be canceled until formal charges are filed, but assured that immediate action would follow once grounds for cancellation are established through filed cases.
