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January 7, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — What ever happened to President Marcos’ pronouncement that the big fish behind the flood control mess would not have a merry Christmas?
As critics say the scenario did not materialize and that only small fry have been placed behind bars, Malacañang assured the public that more developments could still unfold within the remainder of the President’s term.
“The ones who were jailed definitely did not have a merry Christmas. But it’s not yet over. If people are waiting, the President is also waiting. The President is also waiting for the speedy resolution from the ombudsman and the DOJ (Department of Justice),” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing.
“If there is strong evidence against those who are possibly involved – and the President wants due process observed – the term of the President is not yet over. A lot would still happen,” she added.
Castro emphasized that the President did not mention any names when he made the remark.
“Let us remember, after more than four months, people were jailed, warrants of arrest were issued, someone went into hiding, there was restitution and most of their kickbacks were returned. They never happened under any administration. They happened only during the administration of President Marcos,” she said.
Last November, Marcos said most of those charged over substandard and non-existent flood control structures would be in jail and would not enjoy a merry Christmas.
Yet some sectors have criticized the statement, noting that only minor players or low-level personalities have been arrested and jailed, not the major figures allegedly behind the kickback schemes.
In response, Castro described claims that no significant personalities linked to the flood control mess have been jailed as “propaganda.”
She cited contractor Sarah Discaya, who has been charged with graft and malversation over a ghost project worth P96.5 million and was arrested last Dec. 18.
The Palace press officer also noted former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who has a standing arrest warrant over an allegedly anomalous road dike in Oriental Mindoro and has been hiding abroad.
At the same briefing, Castro said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) would continue its probe into anomalous projects despite the resignation of two commissioners.
The commission, established by Marcos in September 2025 to investigate infrastructure projects in the past ten years, is now left with just one member.
Former public works secretary Rogelio Singson resigned for health reasons, while Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. country managing partner Rossana Fajardo quit, feeling she had accomplished the work she set out to do.
ICI chairman and retired Supreme Court associate Justice Andres Reyes, Jr. now serves as the sole commissioner, with former police chief Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. and lawyer Brian Keith Hosaka remaining as special adviser and executive director, respectively.
“For now, we have not been given an update on whether there would be replacements for the resigned commissioners, but the ICI continues to work. The ombudsman is still there and they vowed to continue the probe. The enthusiasm to speed up the investigation and to file cases is still there,” Castro said.
“It won’t stop even if we say that the ICI only has one member. The executive director is still there. It continues to investigate. The investigation won’t stop,” she added.
Discaya to be relocated
Following her arrest last year, Discaya may be transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation detention facility in Muntinlupa City if a court grants her pending motion, acting NBI director Angelito Magno said yesterday.
Magno said the NBI is prepared to take custody of Discaya once a court order is issued approving her transfer.
“If that appeal is granted, we have a detention facility for her at Building 14 of the Bureau of Corrections,” Magno told reporters.
Building 14 is the jail facility for NBI detainees located inside the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison but has a separate access route from the NBP’s main gate.
Discaya, along with eight co-accused, was arrested on Dec. 18 and is currently detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail in Cebu on charges of graft and malversation of public funds.
Her camp filed a motion in late December 2025 before the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court seeking to place her under NBI custody.
