Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oeDIB6zcz4Q" title="LIVE: Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds press briefing" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Several individuals accused of corruption in flood control cases could be arrested and jailed “before Christmas”, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday.</p><p>Authorities are looking to file criminal and administrative cases against 37 individuals, including lawmakers, contractors and other government officials, Marcos told reporters in a Malacañang press conference.</p><p>“Bago mag-Pasko marami dito sa napangalanan dito, palagay ko matatapos na ang kaso nila, buo na yung kaso nila,” he said.</p><p>“Makukulong na sila, wala silang Merry Christmas,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/12/ici-zeroes-in-on-80-flood-control-projects-linked-to-firms-named-by-marcos-1606">ICI zeroes in on 80 flood control projects linked to firms named by Marcos</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>MARTIN ROMUALDEZ NOT PART OF INITIAL LIST</strong></div><div> </div><p>Malacañang promised to name the 37 individuals who were on the government’s initial list of respondents, but Marcos noted that his cousin, former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, was not part of that roster.</p><p>“Not as of yet. If something else comes out, then he (Romualdez) might be answerable to something,” Marcos said.</p><p>“Provide us the evidence and we will file cases against them… Bigyan ninyo kami ng lahat ng ebidensya na mayroon kayo para magamit namin,” he said.</p><p>“Walang immune sa investigation na ito, walang exempted.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/11/house-gov-t-agencies-urged-to-withhold-zaldy-co-s-clearances-pending-flood-control-probe-1542">House, gov&#x27;t agencies urged to withhold Zaldy Co&#x27;s clearances pending flood control probe</a></div><p>The government has no definite timeline on when it would wrap up investigations and the filing of cases against those involved in the flood control project scandal, the President said.</p><p>“Nakakatiyak ako na marami pa tayong mababawi dito so patuloy naming gagawin yun,” he said.</p><p>So far, the Malacañang estimated that it could recoup at least P18.16 billion through restitution of several assets.</p><p>The government is looking at recovering the allegedly ill-gotten funds through the following: </p><ul><li>P6.3 billion from the freezing of several bank accounts, real properties, vehicles, other assets</li><li>P3 billion to P5 billion in penalties from 12 bid-rigging cases</li><li>P8.86 billion in tax evasion cases against nearly 100 contractors, DPWH and COA officials</li></ul><div> </div><p>“Babantayan natin nang husto every step of the way. Bawat hakbang sa prosesong ito ay babantayan nating mabuti,” the President said.</p><p>“Lahat naman tayo ay nais nating makamtan kaagad ang hustisya. Kung may aral tayong natutunan sa nakaraan ay maging mas mabusisi tayo at tumagal ng kaunti kaysa magkamali,” he said.</p><p>“Ang ayaw namin ay yung mga kasabwat dito ay makakalusot because of a legal technicality… Titiyakin namin na kapag kami ay nagsampa ng kaso, yang kaso na yan ay matibay hanggang dulo…. at kung huhusgahan sila ng korte ay makukulong sila.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘MERRY CHRISTMAS PA RIN’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos was incredulous at  the pronouncement of her brother, the President, that there was no evidence to pin down Romualdez in the flood control scandal.</p><p>“Kamuntik na akong nalaglag sa upuan,&quot; Marcos told reporters.</p><p>Marcos said she received information that congressmen testifying before the Blue Ribbon Committee on Friday would clear Romualdez.</p><p>“Ang latest chika, ang magaganap bukas dyan sa Blue Ribbon ay yung mga congressman pupunta doon. May script na daw sila. At yun nga, liliwanagin na walang kinalaman si Martin Romualdez,” the senator said.</p><p>&quot;Di, may Merry Christmas. Kasi, diba, sabi niya na si dating speaker Martin ay hindi kakasuhan. Pero so far, wala. So, Merry Christmas pa rin,” she added.</p><p>Sen. Marcos added that she had disowned her cousin.</p><p>&quot;Tiniwalag ko na yun,” she said of Romualdez.</p><p>She added that former Congressman Zaldy Co mght join the Senate hearing on Friday via Zoom.  But Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Co was not invited.</p><p>“I didn’t push through with the initial plan to invite him via Zoom. On second thought, the hearing might afford him a platform to say anything he wants even with no probative value and worse for propaganda purposes only without any accountability for at least possible contempt citation,” he said.    </p><p>Lacson declined to comment on Sen. Marcos’ other remarks.</p><p>&quot;More than Sen Imee’s crystal ball, my bigger concern is how to recover my normal voice in time for tomorrow’s BRC hearing or this afternoon’s budget plenary debates which I have intended to interpellate. I’ve  lost my voice since yesterday after drinking ice cold water with a sore throat last Tuesday night. I’m under medication, while drinking salabat, gurgling water with rock salt, etc. I hope it gets better, to speak audibly at least,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT HOUSE LEADERS SAY </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, at least two House leaders agreed with the President’s statement that there was no sufficient evidence yet against Romualdez.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said Romualdez was not part of the bicameral conference committee, accused of making billions of pesos in insertions in the proposed 2025 national budget for flood control and other infrastructure projects.</p><p>Puno added that the testimony of Orly Guteza, who supposedly delivered suitcases of cash to the residence of Romualdez and Co was not corroborated. The signature in Guteza’s affidavit also turned out to be forged.</p><p>“Yung Guteza nga, nag-uumpisa pa lang, mayroon nang palsipikado, kasi ‘yung kanyang notarization, palsipikado na. Tapos noong sa salaysay niya, sabi niya, may dalawang kasama ako, dineny naman noong dalawa. Tapos sabi niya, hinatid ko sa bahay ni dating Speaker ito dito sa Forbes. E hindi naman nakatira si Speaker at that time doon, dahil nasa ibang bahay siya dahil nire-repair itong isang bahay na ito. So, kumbaga, ano’ng ebidensya laban kay Speaker ngayon? Wala naman nakakapagsabi ng kahit ano eh,” Puno said.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said the ICI records showed “no paper trail, no transaction, and no testimony” linking Romualdez to any questionable project.</p><p>“Former Speaker Romualdez has already faced the ICI under oath. He submitted documents, answered every question, and made himself fully accountable. The agencies handling the review have full access to the records, and none points to his involvement,” Ortega said in a statement.</p><p>“Public service demands fairness. We cannot destroy reputations based on innuendo. We owe the public a process that is sober, factual, and rooted in due process,” he added.</p><p>House Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Bienvenido Abante Jr. shared this sentiment.</p><p>“Up to now, there is no document, no signature, no transaction, and no testimony directly pointing to former Speaker Romualdez. The ICI has access to all implementing agencies. If anything existed, it would have surfaced by now,” he said.</p><p>“Speculation is easy. Accountability requires facts. The President’s message was simple and correct: bring the evidence, and the government will act. Without it, there is no case,” Abante added.</p><p>But ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio insists, Romualdez should be held accountable for the questionable budget insertions as former House leader, along with the former Senate President, and the President, who signed the budget.</p><p>“Ang insertions at pag-apruba sa flood control ay ginawa ng House, ng Senate at maging ng Malacanang. So ang mga pinuno ng lahat ng ‘yan, so ‘yung Senate President, ‘yung House Speaker, at saka ‘yung Presidente mismo, may pananagutan ‘yun,” Tinio said.</p><p>“Bilang Speaker, siyempre may papel, mahalagang papel sa pagpasa ng budget na ngayon ay punong-puno ng corruption. So therefore, dapat humarap at managot,” he said.</p><div><strong>— With a report from RG Cruz and Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News <br/></strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/11/11/dpwh-to-implement-shelved-2017-flood-control-masterplan-in-storm-ravaged-cebu-1823">DPWH to implement shelved 2017 flood control masterplan in storm-ravaged Cebu</a></div>

<p>Individuals accused of corruption in flood control cases could be arrested and jailed “before Christmas”, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday.</p>

Individuals accused of corruption in flood control cases could be arrested and jailed “before Christmas”, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday.

Marcos: Flood control corruption suspects to be jailed 'before Christmas'

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Marcos: Flood control corruption suspects to be jailed 'before Christmas'

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 13, 2025 10:46 AM PHT

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Updated November 14, 2025 09:09 AM PHT

Read More:

Bongbong Marcos

Marcos

DPWH

corruption

flood control

baha

ICI

independent flood control probe

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