President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at a press conference in Malacañang last Monday, November 24, 2025. Photo from PCO.

By: Manuel Mogato | Published: November 29, 2025

MANILA — The anti-corruption court Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of at least 18 people, including former congressman Elizaldy Co, for their involvement in the corruption cases that stemmed from an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Co, government engineers, and officials of a construction company linked to the lawmaker.

“There will be no special treatment, no sacred cows,” Marcos said in a nationwide broadcast. “They will be arrested, face the court and answer to the law.”

Co and his co-accused are facing three corruption-related cases in total in relation to a 289 million peso anomalous flood control project.

Authorities said eight of the 18 had been arrested or surrendered to law enforcement agencies and detained in a holding facility in Quezon City, close to the anti-corruption court. (Also read: Having a Dysfunctional Government is a Nation’s Worst Trouble)

The anti-graft Ombudsman said it was preparing to file the next batch of plunder, bribery, malversation, and graft practices against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and seven other congressmen, and dozens of government engineers.

Romualdez is the first cousin of President Marcos.

There have been continued protests calling for accountability of lawmakers, engineers, and private construction companies involved in more than 400 anomalous projects.

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Asia-Pacific Insights

Sandiganbayan orders arrest of former…