By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday that more big names implicated in the flood control corruption scandal will be arrested in the coming weeks.
“Big fish are coming soon. We should expect the Discayas, senators, congressmen in the next five weeks, sunod-sunod na sila. Walang ‘La Catedral’ dito. I-treat sila kagaya ng mga karamihan,” he said in a statement.
Remulla was referring to the La Catedral prison in Medellin, Colombia, which was built to specifications ordered by Medellin Cartel leader Pablo Escobar under an agreement with the Colombian government.
He said of the eight suspects arrested thus far, six are now at the New Quezon City Jail male dormitory in Payatas—Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Felisardo Casuno, and engineer Dennis Abagon.
Meanwhile, Lerma Cayco is detained at the Camp Caringal female dormitory.
All seven will undergo trial for plunder, anti-graft violations, and indirect bribery before the 6th and 7th Divisions of the Office of the Ombudsman.
One suspect, Juliet Calvo, was allowed to post bail for falsification of documents and will undergo trial before the 5th Division of the Office of the Ombudsman.
For suspects who remain at large in the United States and Qatar, Remulla said they have until Thursday to surrender to the nearest Philippine embassy.
“We have copies of their passports. Mahahanap namin sila kahit saan sila magpunta,” he said.
Remulla said locating alleged flood control mastermind and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has been challenging because he holds two passports.
He said Philippine National Police tracker teams have been deployed after confirming his recent movements in the United States, Europe, Singapore, Spain, Portugal, and Japan.
“Umuwi ka na, kailangan mo managot sa batas,” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Director Ruel Rivera said the detained suspects will receive the same food and water as all other inmates, access to 24-hour in-house medical services, and the same visitation rights as all other inmates.
Coddlers warned
The PNP, meanwhile, warned individuals who may be harboring or assisting those accused that such actions will not go unpunished.
PNP acting chief PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said police units implementing the arrest warrants were already instructed to prepare and file criminal charges against those who would be confirmed to have coddled the accused in the graft and malversation cases.
“We understand the close ties among relatives and friends, but accountability and the rule of law must always prevail. Let us allow justice to take its course, and part of it is to let them confront the cases filed against them,” Nartatez said in a separate statement.
“Hindi kailangang madamay at magdusa kayo dito,” he added.
