PBBM assured the public that many of those involved in the flood control scam would spend their Christmas in jail. But Christmas 2025 is past and gone, yet we have not heard of anyone moaning or singing sorrowful carols in jail. The lawmakers and top officials of the DPWH, who have allegedly connived to plunder the billions of government funds in flood control projects, have remained Scot-free.

Manuel Bonoan, the former Secretary of the DPWH, managed to leave the country with his kickback lot before the big bang of the food control scandal. The cases against Bulacan District Engr. Alcantara and DPWH Undersecretary Bernardo remain pending. Former Congressman Zaldy Co, the master of insertion and parking kickbacks, is hiding abroad and has been launching missiles of accusation on the key role of PBBM in the flood control mess. Charged by the Ombudsman for malversation of public funds, but are still free, including Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.

No one was in jail, Mr. President. You’d better shut up to salvage what little credibility you may still have. 

Of consolation is the voluntary surrender of billionaire contractor Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday morning, December 9, before a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Discaya and her co-accused were charged by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Regional Trial Court in Digos City of graft and malversation in connection with the P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

The project was awarded to St. Timothy Construction Corp., a construction company owned by the Discayas, on January 22, 2022, and declared completed on October 2, 2022.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. William R. Adan, Ph.D., is retired professor and former chancellor of Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental.)