LIST: Big names, others arrested in flood control scandal

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s investigation into alleged corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects has led to the arrest and detention of several personalities, with the cases now reaching some of the country’s most prominent political figures.

The flood control scandal came to national prominence in August 2025 after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. exposed an allegedly nonexistent P55-million river wall project in Bulacan, prompting a government review of nearly 10,000 flood control projects, a Senate probe, and the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate alleged anomalies and kickbacks.

Marcos made the flood control issue a centerpiece of his 2025 State of the Nation Address (Sona), calling out officials and contractors allegedly involved in corruption, saying “Mahiya naman kayo!” (You should be ashamed of yourselves)

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READ: Is Revilla 1st big fish off to jail; Palace says he’s not the beginning

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In the months that followed, cases were filed and arrests were made involving contractors, DPWH officials, and lawmakers. However, critics still questioned when the so-called “big fish” will be caught.

In his 2026 Sona, Marcos said the investigation would proceed without favor and stressed this even as the cases reached his first cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying, “Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking pamilya… Ako ay Pangulo ng Pilipinas.”

(I am not the President of my family… I am the President of the Philippines.)

READ: Sona 2026: Marcos says cases vs Romualdez to proceed

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But who have been arrested?

High-profile personalities

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• Martin Romualdez – former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District representative; arrested on Sept. 7, 2026 after the Sandiganbayan ordered his detention over a P7.44-billion plunder case involving alleged kickbacks from flood control, infrastructure and other government projects.

READ: Martin Romualdez arrested

• Sen. Jinggoy Estrada – arrested after surrendering to the PNP-CIDG on June 1, 2026 over a nonbailable plunder case linked to alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.

READ: Jinggoy Estrada says he surrendered, Remulla says arrested

• Former Sen. Bong Revilla – arrested alongside several DPWH officials over a P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. Revilla later posted bail in the graft case, while the malversation case remained nonbailable. The Sandiganbayan subsequently granted him temporary release.

READ: Bong Revilla surrenders amid arrest warrant over flood control mess

• Manuel “Manny” Bonoan – former DPWH secretary; surrendered to authorities after being ordered arrested over a plunder case linked to the flood control scandal. He was later removed as an accused in the case and released by the Sandiganbayan.

READ: Bonoan pleads not guilty to graft case, waives reading of charges

Contractors

• Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya – contractor; arrested at the Senate on June 8, 2026 after a warrant was issued over a malversation case involving an alleged P53.9-million anomalous flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan.
• Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya – contractor; detained in connection with the alleged P96.5-million “ghost” flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
• Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando – managing officer of St. Timothy Construction Corp.; surrendered to Pasig City police and was subsequently placed in custody in connection with the Davao Occidental case.

READ: Curlee Discaya arrested for malversation

Estrada/Bonoan plunder case

• Denryl Caesar Cortuna – former DPWH NCR assistant district engineer; arrested and detained in connection with the plunder case involving Estrada and Bonoan.
• Manny Bulusan – former DPWH district engineer; arrested and detained in the same case.
• Arturo Gonzales Jr. – former DPWH district engineer; arrested and detained in the same case.

READ: Estrada, Bonoan, 3 others accounted for in plunder case

Pandi, Bulacan – P92.8 million case

Arrested with Revilla include:

• Brice Ericson Diaz Hernandez – former DPWH assistant district engineer
• Jaypee De Leon Mendoza – former DPWH official
• Arjay Salvador Domasig – DPWH project engineer
• Juanito Coronel Mendoza – DPWH accountant
• Christina Mae del Rosario Pineda – former DPWH cashier
• Emelita Capistrano Juat – DPWH engineer

READ: Hernandez, Mendoza, Domasig, 3 others arrested over Bulacan ghost project

READ: Last of Revilla’s co-accused in flood mess nabbed in Bulacan

Calumpit, Bulacan P53.9-million case

Meanwhile the case involving the alleged P53.9 million anomalous flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan which led to arrest warrants against contractor Curlee Discaya, also included:

• Merg Jaron Caparas Laus – DPWH official; taken into custody in Bulacan.
• Brice Ericson Diaz Hernandez – former DPWH assistant district engineer; already detained over the P92.8-million Pandi, Bulacan case.
• Jaypee De Leon Mendoza – former DPWH official; already detained over the P92.8-million Pandi, Bulacan case.
• Norberto de Leon Santos – DPWH official; taken into custody in Bulacan.
• Juanito Coronel Mendoza – former DPWH accountant; already detained over the P92.8-million Pandi case.
• Floralyn Yutuc Simbulan – DPWH official; taken into custody in Bulacan.

The Sandiganbayan also ordered the arrest of Ernesto Cosay Galang and Lorenzo Alcoriza Pagtalunan, who remained at large. 

READ: Court orders arrest of Curlee Discaya, 10 others, over malversation case

Oriental Mindoro – P289.4-million case

Moreover, nine DPWH officials from the Mimaropa region were likewise placed under government custody over an alleged anomalous P289.4-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro:

• Dennis Pelo Abagon – OIC-chief, DPWH 4B Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division; regular member, Bidding and Awards Committee (now OIC-chief, Planning and Design Division)
• Gerald A. Pacanan – Department of Public Works and Highways Mimaropa (DPWH 4B) regional director
• Gene Ryan Alurin Altea – assistant regional director (now director of DPWH Bureau of Maintenance)
• Ruben delos Santos Santos Jr. – assistant regional director
• Dominic Gregorio Serrano – chief, DPWH 4B Construction Division
• Felisardo Sevare Casuno – project engineer III
• Lerma Dotado Cayco – DPWH 4B Bidding and Awards Committee Account IV
• Engr. Montrexis Tamayo – DPWH 4B Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge
• Juliet Calvo – DPWH 4B  maintenance division head

READ: 9 DPWH execs plead not guilty to malversation charge

Davao Occidental – P96.5-million case

Furthermore, in Mindanao, eight DPWH officials surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with a P96.5-million alleged “ghost” flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.

They are:

• Rodrigo Larete – district engineer
• Michael Awa – assistant district engineer
• Joel Lumogdang – construction officer in charge
• Harold John Villaver – project engineer
• Rafael Faunillan – quality assurance chief
• Josephine Valdez – planning and design chief
• Ranulfo Flores – maintenance chief
• Czar Ryan Ubungen – finance chief

READ: 8 DPWH execs in custody before Discaya yielded

At large

Meanwhile, the following individuals have so far yet to be arrested:

• Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co – former Ako Bicol party-list representative; ordered arrested over flood control-related cases but remains at large. 
• Ernesto Cosay Galang – DPWH official; remains at large in the P53.9-million Bulacan case.
• Lorenzo Alcoriza Pagtalunan – DPWH official; remains at large in the P53.9-million Bulacan case.

READ: Remulla to visit France amid Zaldy Co and Loren Legarda’s stay

READ: PNP closing in on 2 DPWH execs tagged in Bulacan flood control case

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The accused in the various cases have been charged with offenses including graft, malversation, and plunder. With their trials ongoing, they remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. /dp