Coming soon: Arrest of flood scam 'big fish'

Expect the “big fish” in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal — including senators and congressmen - to fall into the government dragnet and get locked up in five weeks, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday.

- By MARK ERNEST VILLEZA and RAINIER ALLAN RONDA

“Big fish are coming soon. We should expect the Discayas, senators and congressmen in the next five weeks. There will be no special treatment. They will be treated like everyone else,” Remulla said at a briefing with Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officials at the New Quezon City Jail where six of eight public works officials charged for involvement in flood control anomalies are now detained.

Remulla said some of the suspects or accused still at large are abroad, including in Qatar and the United States. He said they have until tomorrow to surrender to the nearest Philippine embassy.

“We have copies of their passports. We can find them wherever they go,” he said.

He noted that the search for alleged mastermind and former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co has been difficult because the former lawmaker holds two passports.

“Go home. You need to answer to the law,” the DILG chief said, adding that tracker teams confirmed Co's recent movements in Europe, Asia and the US.

Remulla also disclosed that one suspect was arrested inside the home of a Mindoro vice mayor who, along with household members, may face charges for obstruction of justice.

"Do not help those who continue to hide. If you care for them, you should also care for yourselves," he said.

Acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also issued the same warning and ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and other police units implementing the arrest warrants to prepare criminal cases against people found coddling the fugitives.

"We understand the close ties among relatives and friends but accountability and the rule of law must always prevail," Nartatez said in a statement.