PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened his fifth State of the Nation Address by announcing that charges have already been filed and key figures detained in the massive flood control projects scam, while the Office of the Ombudsman is set to file multiple cases against his cousin, former speaker and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Delivering the announcement with a heavy tone, the President acknowledged the personal difficulty of the matter but emphasized that accountability must prevail above all else.
“The first batch have been charged and detained: contractors, ranking DPWH officials, and even lawmakers. We have reached the point where the Ombudsman says multiple cases will soon be filed against the former Speaker. This hurts me deeply, but this is something we must do,” Marcos declared.
He added firmly, “I am not the President of my family,” underscoring that public office demands impartiality and that no one, regardless of personal ties, is exempt from the law. The statement echoes his 2025 SONA, where he called on those involved in corrupt flood control deals to reflect on their actions and show shame.
Already facing charges and detention over the anomalous multibillion‑peso infrastructure projects are Senators Jinggoy Estrada and former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., along with former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan. The cases mark a major step in the administration’s crackdown on alleged corruption in public works, which has long been flagged as a persistent drain on public funds and a barrier to effective disaster response.
In a related development, the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued an arrest warrant on Monday for Uswag Ilonggo Party‑list Representative James “Jojo” Ang, just two days after the Ombudsman indicted him on 14 counts of graft. Investigators found that Ang held a stake in a construction firm that secured ₱214 million worth of DPWH contracts and received nearly ₱199 million in payments while he was serving as a lawmaker — a practice explicitly prohibited by the Constitution and existing laws barring public officials from having financial interests in government contracts.
metrosundaily
