Marcos on those involved in flood control mess: Wala silang Merry Christmas

“Wala silang Merry Christmas.”

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Thursday that those involved in corruption in flood control projects would be jailed before Christmas Day. 

“Kaya’t ‘yang mga taong ‘yan na kasabwat diyan, ito mga walang-hiyang ito sa – na nagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan: Tapos na ang maliligaya ninyong araw! Hahabulin na namin kayo,” Marcos said.

''Alam ko... bago mag-Pasko, marami dito sa napangalanan dito ay palagay ko, matatapos na 'yung kaso nila, buo na 'yung kaso nila, makukulong na sila. Wala silang Merry Christmas, before Christmas makukulong na sila,'' he added.

The President maintained that he wants airtight cases against personalities involved in the flood control projects scandal. Sometimes, cases were junked because of lack of evidence or technicalities, he added.

''Alam ninyo, kinakatakutan namin na ‘yung mga alam natin na talagang kasabwat dito sa kawalang-hiyaang ito ay makakalusot sa kaso because of a legal technicality. Dahil nagkamali tayo sa pagbuo ng ebidensya, dahil hindi maganda ang ating pagpresenta ng kaso, o nakalimutan natin pumirma sa isang dokumento. ‘Yung mga maliliit na bagay na ganyan, nalalaglag ang kaso dahil diyan. Kayo mga reporter, alam ninyo nangyayari talaga ‘yan,'' Marcos said.

(Our fear is that those involved will get away with these cases because of legal technicality. Because committed a mistake in handling the evidence, we presented the case in a wrong way, or we forgot to sign a document. Those little things usually were the reason why some cases were junked. As reporters, you know that.)

''Kaya tinitiyak namin na pagka kami ay sumampa ng kaso, ‘yang kasong ‘yan ay hanggang sa dulo ay matibay ang kaso at kung sinuman ang mga guilty, ay sila naman talaga ay mananagot. At kung kailangan at kung huhusgahan sila ng korte ay makukulong sila,'' he added.

(So we are making sure that once we file the cases, they will stand until the end and those who are guilty will be held liable. They will be jailed after being tried in courts.)

Earlier in the day, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said over 40 people allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro are expected to be jailed this November. 

“Hindi na maghihintay ng Disyembre. Ngayon lang November ay may makukulong na,” Dizon told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(We do not have to wait for December. As early as this November, someone will go to jail.)

“Kung pagsasamahin natin 'yung dalawang kasong 'yun, 26 'yung sa Bulacan kasama na 'yung mga Discaya doon at saka si (Henry) Alcantara etc. tapos 15 doon sa Mindoro kasama kay former congressman Zaldy Co at kompanya niya, ay halos 40 tao 'yan na makukulong doon sa dalawang kaso pa lang na 'yun,” he added.

(In those two cases, 26 in Bulacan including the Discayas and Alcantara et al. then 15 in Mindoro including former congressman Zaldy Co and his company—that’s almost 40 people who will be jailed just for those two cases.)

Alcantara and the Discayas have admitted to their involvement in the flood control mess while Co repeatedly denied the accusations.

Call to keep reporting

Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. urged the Filipino public to continue reporting anomalous flood control projects through his administration's sumbongsapangulo.ph website.

The President said that since the website was launched last August, it has received over 20,000 reports and complaints. Without the public's role in reporting anomalous flood control projects, Marcos said, these would not be investigated.

"Kaya't marami po sa ating mga naimbestigahan na ay hindi po namin malalaman kung hindi ninyo sinumbong sa amin. Napakahalaga ng impormasyon na ibinibigay ng taong-bayan sa ating pamahalaan na malaking–, madaming impormasyon na hindi namin makukuha kung hindi sa inyong sumbong," he added. 

(Without your reports, we would not have known about these projects. The public's information and complaints on these projects are very important in our investigation.) 

Marcos launched sumbongsapangulo.ph, a website designed to provide the public with access to information on flood control projects across the country. This also allows them to report any irregularities on such projects. —AOL/ VDV, GMA Integrated News