NBI serves arrest warrant vs. flood control personality in QC

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) served Friday evening an arrest warrant against at least one personality implicated in the alleged anomalous flood control projects controversy.

The bureau dispatched its Organized and Transnational Crime Division (OTCD) personnel for the operation at a residence in Quezon City, according to GMA Integrated News reporter John Consulta.

Additional details about the location and the subject individual were not immediately disclosed.

NBI Officer-in-Charge Atty. Lito Magno ordered the deployment of the bureau's tracker teams to serve the warrant issued by Sandiganbayan.

In a 24 Oras Weekend report by Darlene Cay on Saturday, the Sandiganbayan noted that they are awaiting the arrests following the issuance of the warrants on Friday.

They still have no reports regarding other accused who may have already been arrested as of Saturday afternoon.

“We released the warrants of arrest kahapon. (yesterday.) It was received by the CIDG. We expect them to serve and implement yung warrants of arrest. As ordered, they are mandated to bring the persons of the accused before the court… We treat this like any other cases,” shared Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk Of Court III Attorney Dennis Pulma.

In a separate report by Vonne Aquino, local police said they have yet to receive any orders on their arrest and that they understood their positions.

NBI OIC Director Angelito Magno said that the police will continue to visit addresses and implement these warrants of arrest.

They are now working to ensure that the suspects remain in the Philippines and called for the rest of the accused to surrender.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos announced Friday that arrest warrants were issued against former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, officials of the Department of the Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and directors of contracting firm Sunwest Corp.

The Sandiganbayan identified Co and 16 other individuals as the subjects of the arrest warrants, who have also been placed on a hold departure order.

Based on video of the Friday night's operation, a sibling of the subject individual spoke with NBI-OTCD agents and showed them inside several rooms in the house.

Last Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan raffled off cases filed against Co, DPWH MIMAROPA officials, and Sunwest directors in connection with the P289-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

In filing corruption and malversation charges with the Sandiganbayan, the Office of the Ombudsman also asked for the subsequent issuance of arrest warrants and hold departure orders against the accused.

Marcos has expressed confidence that those involved in the flood control corruption scandal would be put behind bars before Christmas. — VDV/MCG, GMA Integrated News