The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the national police to enforce arrest warrants tied to alleged anomalies in government flood control projects, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced multiple suspects are now wanted.
In a statement on Saturday, the DILG said it directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to serve the warrants ‘properly and in full accordance with the law,’ adding that enforcement would proceed regardless of political ties.
Marcos himself announced on Friday, through a video posted on social media, that arrest warrants had been issued in connection with alleged irregularities in flood-control projects, which authorities say involved the misuse of public funds long flagged by auditors and lawmakers.
The DILG said its position was firm: ‘Enforcement will not depend on personalities or politics. Anyone who is the subject of a lawful warrant will be apprehended.’
‘The law applies equally to all and the DILG will carry out what needs to be done,’ it added.
Police confirmed they were preparing to arrest former Ako Bicol representative Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co and 15 others over suspected irregularities in flood-control contracts.
Co, a former chair of the House appropriations committee, has been a central figure in the probe examining alleged misuse of public funds for flood-control projects flagged by auditors and lawmakers.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said earlier that tracker teams have been deployed to determine Co’s whereabouts.
He added that the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued a blue notice two months ago – allowing member states to share information on a person’s location – after Marcos raised concerns about the flood-control schemes.
The DILG also stressed that due process would be observed and all individuals covered by the warrants would be treated fairly.