Palace: Gov't ready for imprisonment of culprits in flood control anomalies
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on Sept. 15, 2025 to announce the chair of the newly-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure. (Mark Balmores)
The government is ready should there be a need to imprison those involved in the flood control anomalies, Malacañang said.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday, Oct. 20, that the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is prepared to detain around 200 individuals in its regular jail facility in the event that charges are filed over the flood control scandal.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said if that was the estimate of Remulla, the government would indeed be ready to accommodate their imprisonment.
"Tingnan po natin kasi hindi pa naman po tapos iyong imbestigasyon. Kung ganiyan sa tingin niya, nai-estimate niya, ready naman po ang gobyerno kung sila ay dapat makulong (Let’s see, because the investigation is not over yet. If that is his estimate, the government is ready should there be a need to imprison them)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Oct. 20.
"Baka naman may mga pagkakataon na iyong mga kasong maisasampa ay puwede namang matatawag na bailable, so tingnan po natin (There might also be cases that could be considered bailable, so let’s wait and see)," she added.
The Palace official reiterated that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is committed to immediately file cases once their investigation and evidence are sufficient.
"Iyon din naman ang pangako ng ICI na magkakaroon po ng mabilisang pagsasampa ng kaso. Nagkakaroon lang po talaga ng pag-iipon ng mga ebidensiya para hindi naman po malabnaw iyong mga kasong isasampa nila at baka ma-dismiss lamang po (That’s also what the ICI promised — that cases will be filed promptly. They’re just gathering enough evidence to make sure the cases they file are solid and won't be easily dismissed)," Castro said.
"Sayang po ang effort sa kanilang mga ginawa kung madi-dismiss lang po agad (It would be a waste of effort if all their work ends up getting thrown out)," Castro added.
According to Remulla, the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas is the closest and most convenient BJMP facility to the special anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.
He noted that the custodial facility at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame and in Bicutan will no longer be available to hold individuals involved in the multi-billion flood control mess.