Co tagged ‘whale,’ but what about the pod?

Co tagged ‘whale,’ but what about the pod? | Daily Tribune

The Marcos administration has intensified its anti-corruption rhetoric on flood control projects, vowing to charge the “big fish” in the coming days even as sworn allegations have been pointing upward, higher than the targets now being named.

Palace officials on Tuesday reiterated a narrative that placed former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co as the central figure in the multibillion-peso racket, despite Co’s claim that he personally delivered billions of pesos in kickbacks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said on Tuesday that the arrests being made were “just one case in the pool of cases” and that “more influential personalities” would soon be unmasked.

“More cases will be filed in the next few days, and I am certain the big fishes are included,” said Gomez in a radio interview, identifying Co as “the whale” who allegedly amassed the largest share of illicit funds.

The designation raised eyebrows among some lawyers familiar with the investigation, who noted that the Palace appeared determined to tag Co as the “whale” while forgetting that whales swim in a group or in a pod.

Co, now abroad, had released a series of videos accusing President Marcos of being the primary beneficiary of the kickback scheme, a charge Marcos dismissed as “fake news.”

From the P100 billion allegedly inserted in the 2025 national budget, Co alleged that Marcos pocketed 25 percent.

But Gomez said the President wants “actual jail time, not headlines,” before Christmas. He was clearly not thinking of either Marcos or Romualdez.

“The process has begun. Cases are filed, warrants issued, and arrests made. We feel the public’s anger and impatience. We will not disappoint them,” he said, referring to the Trillion Peso March protests.

Mere fingerlings?

However, the biggest legal developments so far involve mid-level public works officials and not national figures.

Juliet Calvo, maintenance chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region IV-B, pleaded not guilty before the Sandiganbayan to graft charges tied to the P289-million Oriental Mindoro flood control project.

Prosecutors later added malversation to the charge sheet. Seven co-accused officials earlier entered similar pleas, and their lawyers insisted the project was not a “ghost” undertaking but was “almost completed.”

Simultaneously, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) conducted its first livestreamed probe, grilling Laguna Rep. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr. over allegations by contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya that he had extorted money from them.

Agarao denied knowing the Discayas and said he never authorized contractor Alvin Mariano to represent him.

Meanwhile, Land Bank officials, earlier criticized for releasing P457 million to SYMS Construction, again insisted that all transactions were legitimate.

The ICI is scheduled to summon House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap this week. Whether they will testify publicly, or behind closed doors, is still unclear.

In another development, National Bureau of Investigation agents raided Co’s condominium units for documents tied to the alleged rigging of flood control bids. The authorities believe Co is in Europe traveling on a foreign passport.