On November 2025, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a blunt warning to those implicated in major corruption cases, saying “wala silang Merry Christmas,” a remark widely interpreted as a signal that arrests and accountability were imminent.

Christmas has long passed, but so far, Sarah Discaya, Ma. Roma Anegline Romando and some Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Officials are the only ones detained or in jail.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a press briefing on Tuesday that while contractor Sarah Discaya and other DPWH officials are currently detained, the government has already taken several actions against others allegedly involved.

These include the issuance of arrest warrants, the freezing of assets, and the return of some alleged kickbacks to the government. Castro, however, acknowledged that several suspects remain at large or are still undergoing legal proceedings.

“Sa administrasyon lang po ng Pangulong Marcos nangyayari ang mga ito,” Castro said, describing what she called an unprecedented push to pursue high-profile corruption cases.

Discaya’s arrest stemmed from alleged anomalies in flood control projects, a controversy that gained national attention after President Marcos flagged so-called “ghost projects” during his State of the Nation Address.

Subsequent investigations by the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and other agencies uncovered projects that were reportedly paid for but were either incomplete or non-existent.

Despite public expectations of multiple arrests before the end of the year, Castro stressed that the government’s anti-corruption drive is far from over.

She said the President himself is awaiting the swift resolution of cases pending before the Ombudsman and the DOJ, emphasizing that the administration prefers airtight cases over rushed prosecutions.

“Hindi pa po natatapos ang termino ng pangulo,” Castro said. “Marami pa pong mangyayari at magaganap.”