EIGHT of 18 individuals ordered arrested by the court in relation to the flood control anomaly were presented to the media Monday. There were the usual images of hoodies, face masks, covered wrists, and other means to hide their identities. Their mug shots of the orange-clad detainees circulated on social media: their faces, names, and official designations in full view of anyone who had an internet connection.
On Monday afternoon, the six male suspects were committed to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City. One female was brought to Camp Karingal, also in Quezon City. The other female was allowed to post bail.
Some of the accused surrendered while some were arrested. Those who are abroad – in Qatar, New Zealand, and the United States – have reportedly sent feelers that they intend to surrender soon, even as the most famous of them, former lawmaker Zaldy Co, remains at large.
We welcome the visuals of the first batch of arrests and hope the others would meet the same fate. The flood control scandal has taken much out of this nation in so many ways: the human toll in flooding, taxpayers’ money that should have gone to legitimate flood-mitigation and other infrastructure, displacement and hours lost instead of working or studying, among others.
But we would also welcome the promise that the engineers and accountants of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region IV-B would not be the only ones made to pay for this sordid mess.
Sure, their cases must contain solid evidence of corrupt acts to merit an arrest. But it is also glaring that those now in jail are mid-level employees. They may have participated in the anomalies but they are in no way the only ones in on the game.
We are heartened by the words of authorities that they are building solid cases against those whom they will charge, based on hard evidence instead of mere say-so by some personalities. By all means, leave no stone unturned in exposing massive corruption in our land, and leave no room for doubt in terms of proof. Then, satisfaction will come, not from the spectacle of arresting small fry but from the final conviction of big names who have milked the public coffers while also doing performative public service.
We look forward to the next weeks and months when yet bigger names will be made to face the law. They must be held accountable for their sins against the nation. Our long-suffering people deserve no less. Only this will placate our outrage.
