Marcos: No special treatment in warrants vs. Zaldy Co

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said arrest warrants have been issued against former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co and 17 others indicted on graft charges over alleged anomalies in flood-control projects.

In a statement posted on his official social media account, Marcos said the warrants cover Co, personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and officials of Sunwest Corporation.

He said the Office of the Ombudsman filed the charges based on evidence gathered by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the DPWH.

“Hindi po ito haka-haka. Hindi po ito kuwento. Ito po ay tunay na ebidensya,” Marcos said.

(“This is not speculation. This is not a tale. This is real evidence.”)

The President said law enforcement agencies will enforce the arrest warrants and stressed that those charged will receive no preferential treatment.

“At ang susunod na hakbang, wala nang paligoy-ligoy pa. Ang ating mga awtoridad, siyempre ipapatupad na nila itong mga arrest warrant na ito. Aarestuhin na sila, ihaharap sa korte, at pananagutin sa batas,” the Chief Executive said.

(“And the next step, without any further delay: our authorities will enforce these arrest warrants. They will be arrested, brought before the court, and held accountable under the law.”)

“Walang special na pagtrato, walang sinasanto,” he added.

(“No special treatment, no exemptions.”)

Marcos said the investigation will continue to identify individuals who profited from irregularities in flood-control and other infrastructure projects.

“Kaya’t asahan po ninyo na wala pong tigil itong aming ginagawa, kahit na parang napakatagal ang dumaan na panahon, ako ay nagpapasalamat sa pasensiya ng ating mga kababayan ngunit nagbunga na ng resulta ang mga pasensiya ninyo,” he said.

(“So you can expect that our efforts will not stop, even if it seems that a long time has passed. I am grateful for the patience of our fellow citizens, and your patience has now borne results.”)

He recalled that the probe stemmed from his Fourth State of the Nation Address on 28 July, during which he denounced widespread corruption in flood-control programs.

The ICI was created on 11 September to investigate irregularities in flood-control and other government infrastructure projects over the past decade.

“Ako ang nagsimula nitong lahat. Ako ang magtatapos,” Marcos said.

(“I started all of this. I will be the one to finish it.”)