PNP: 4 suspects in Bulacan flood control mess arrested

Four male suspects facing arrest warrants in relation to an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Bulacan were arrested last Friday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

In a statement on Sunday, the PNP said the suspects are facing charges of malversation of public funds or property through falsification of public documents.

The Bulacan Police Provincial Office (Bulacan PPO) served arrest warrants on three of the suspects aged 51, 41, and 40 who were already detained at a facility in Quezon City.

A 63-year-old accused from Bustos, Bulacan voluntarily surrendered following coordinated tracking operations.

All warrants were issued in connection with alleged irregularities involving a flood control project in Bulacan, with no bail recommended, the PNP said.

On Friday, the Malolos Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued an arrest warrant against contractors Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and nine others for malversation through falsification of public documents in connection with their alleged involvement in the kickback scheme from flood control projects.

The day before, the Office of the Ombudsman filed malversation and graft charges against the Discaya couple and Merg Jaron Laus, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Ernesto Galang, Norberto Santos, Lorenzo Pagtalunan, Juanito Coronel Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan, Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. lauded the operating units for the successful implementation of the arrest warrants in connection with the flood control mess.

“Ang mandato ng PNP ay ipairal ang batas nang pantay para sa lahat. Hindi natin pinapalampas ang mga ganitong kaso dahil kailangan may pananagutan. Kapag may mali, dapat may kasunod na aksyon – para maprotektahan ang pondo ng bayan at manatili ang tiwala ng publiko,” he said.

(The PNP’s mandate is to implement the law fairly for everyone. We will not let these cases slip by because there should be accountability. If there is wrongdoing, there should be action taken to protect public funds and maintain public trust.)

All accused were informed of their constitutional rights in a language they understood and are now under proper custody pending turnover to the issuing court, the PNP added. — JMA, GMA News