Flood control scam accused could spend Christmas in jail — Dizon

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday said that some individuals accused in the flood control corruption scandal could be arrested and jailed before Christmas.

According to Dizon, those likely to be detained first are the respondents in the complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman last September, which includes former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara, assistant engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza of Bulacan’s 1st District, and contractor Sarah Discaya of St. Timothy Construction Corporation.

“Sa tingin ko, sa kulungan na sila magpa-Pasko niyan (I think they’ll be spending their Christmas in jail),” Dizon said in a television interview, expressing confidence that the first arrests will happen within weeks.

He said Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has prioritized this case, calling it “the fastest” to lead to arrests.

“Kasama po diyan ‘yung mga notorious na taga-First District of Bulacan... at kasama din po si Sarah Discaya (That includes the notorious individuals from the First District of Bulacan, and Sarah Discaya is also among them),” Dizon said, adding that the Ombudsman has already begun the process to issue warrants.

Dizon noted that arrests could happen within “a matter of weeks.”

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government is preparing detention facilities for those who may soon be taken into custody.

He confirmed that the Quezon City Jail’s Male Dormitory is ready to house suspects with Salary Grade 27 and above, while the Pasay City Jail will accommodate those with Salary Grade 26 and below.

The flood control corruption probe is part of the government’s intensified campaign against anomalies in infrastructure projects, with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) conducting separate hearings into alleged irregularities in DPWH contracts.

If the Ombudsman’s process moves as expected, Dizon said the first round of arrests could make this Christmas “a different kind of holiday” for those accused of corruption.

“Tingin ko, baka linggo na lang ho ang binibilang diyan dahil pagkaupo na pagkaupo po ni Ombudsman Boying Remulla ay sinimulan na niya ’yan — ang proseso diyan — kaya tingin ko po kaunti na lang po. Sunod-sunod na po ito (I think it’s only a matter of weeks because as soon as Ombudsman Boying Remulla took office, he immediately started the process. So I believe it’s just a little more time — the arrests will follow one after another),” he noted.