At least 15 cases related to the anomalous flood control projects are set to be referred to the Ombudsman in the next two to three weeks, but those who will be initially charged may not include any government officials yet, Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) officials said Monday, Oct. 13.

Both newly-sworn in ICI Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin and Executive Director Brian Hosaka announced in a press conference that around 15 to 20 cases may already be referred to the Ombudsman in the coming weeks.

This developed after the body discovered 421 ghost or non-existent flood control projects from the 8,000 infrastructure project that it had already inspected.

But despite the multiple times that several government officials were name-dropped and linked to the anomalies during the recent congressional hearings, for now, only contractors and district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) may be charged, according to Azurin.

"As of now, wala pa kami nakikita (we don't see any liable government official yet)," Azurin said when asked about the identities of any accountable government officials.

Part of this was because only contractors and district engineers served as signatories of the project.

"But definitely, ang umpisa kasi ng investigation dyan is doon sa baba eh, doon sa district, we just follow yung paper trail siguro (Investigation starts from the bottom level, at the district level. We’ll maybe follow the paper trail afterwards)," he added.

Hosaka said the body relies on evidence in recommending charges against any individual.

"Kung ano yung ebidensya namin na makukuha, edi sila yung malagay doon sa aming referral as persons who may be responsible (We will identify persons who may be responsible in our referral based on the evidence that we will gather)," Hosaka said.

So far, 8,000 out of 29,800 total flood control projects from 2016-2025 were inspected by the DPWH and its partner agencies, such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

Out of the figure, 421 turned out to be ghost projects: 261 are in Luzon, 109 in Visayas,  and 51 in Mindanao.

One of central figures in flood control projects mess is former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co, who had been accused by contractors, district engineers, and even a former DPWH official to have received kickbacks.

But even he has not been identified by the ICI as he continues to snub the subpoena issued by the body for him to attend its hearings.

Co has been subpoenaed to participate in the trial on Tuesday, Oct. 14, but he has yet to respond, according to Hosaka.

Hosaka says ICI will tap the court to issue a contempt order against Co, who remains out of the country. And if he still shrugs it off, an arrest warrant will be issued.

Meanwhile, Hosaka also clarified why an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) and not a Hold Departure Order (HDO) was recently requested for 33 mostly incumbent government officials.

As the public pointed out that an ILBO would not still prevent possible perpetrators from escaping the country, Hosaka said that was the most the ICI could do since an HDO could only be issued against an individual with a pending case.

“Yung hold departure order kasi yung nag iisue nyan yung korte (The hold departure order is being issued by the court). So unless a case is filed sa (before the) Sandiganbayan, wala pang (there's no) hold departure. So this is one we can do right now is to ask or request for an ILBO,” Hosaka said.

And even that could only be issued by the court, or in this case, by the Sandiganbayan.