MANILA – Critics and watchdog groups are pressing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make good on his September 2025 pledge to jail the “big fish” behind the P20-billion flood control corruption scandal, questioning why high-ranking officials and masterminds remain untouched despite arrests of contractors and frozen accounts. The renewed calls, amplified on social media and in statements from December 26, 2025, highlight frustration over perceived selective accountability in a case exposing “ghost” projects that left communities vulnerable to devastating floods.
Marcos, in a September address, vowed “no sacred cows” and promised prosecutions reaching the highest levels: “We will go after the big fish—the planners, the approvers, the beneficiaries.” Yet, as 2025 ends, only lower-tier contractors like Sarah Discaya and her husband Curlee face detention (including Senate contempt), while former DPWH executives and implicated lawmakers enjoy relative freedom pending charges.
Key points of criticism:
- Delayed High-Level Charges: Ombudsman probes name figures like the late Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, but no indictments for living “masterminds.”
- Selective Justice Claims: Arrests focus on implementers; critics ask why budget inserters and overseers evade similar scrutiny.
- Public Funds Recovery: Over P100 million returned and 1,193 accounts frozen praised, but seen as insufficient without top convictions.
Opposition voices and netizens echo: “Where’s the big fish, Mr. President?”—recalling similar unfulfilled anti-corruption promises from past administrations.
Palace spokespersons defend the timeline as “methodical,” building “airtight cases” to avoid acquittals. “Justice is coming—the President stands firm,” one said.
As typhoon season looms again, the question lingers: Will 2026 deliver on the vow, or will the “big fish” swim free?
Scandal Status Snapshot (End-2025):
| Aspect | Progress |
|---|---|
| Arrests | Contractors (Discaya et al.); Senate contempt for others |
| Account Freezes | 1,193 (billions in assets) |
| High-Level Charges | Pending; focus on evidence-building |
| Marcos Vow | “No sacred cows; jail big fish” (Sept 2025) |