President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that an arrest warrant has been issued against former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, former head of the House appropriations committee, and 17 others involved in the anomalous flood control projects.

"The warrant of arrest against Zaldy Co and 17 others from the (Department of Public Works and Highways) DPWH and Sunwest Corporation have been issued," Marcos said in his Facebook post on Friday afternoon.

The Sandiganbayan's three divisions issued the arrest warrants over Co and 17 others over the reported substandard P289.5 million river dike project in Oriental Mindoro.

Marcos ordered law enforcers to immediately implement the arrest in a quick and right way.

"To our law enforcement agencies, Let's not delay this. Arrest them immediately. Make sure that this is done quickly and properly. The wheels of justice are already rolling," he said.

Marcos assures the public that there will be no special treatment and the accused will be brought before the court to face their charges.

"The authorities will implement the arrest warrant. They will be arrested and will be brought to court to face legal liabilities. There will be no special treatment. I started all of this, I will finish it," he said.

Co, who posted three videos claiming that Marcos and Romualdez were involved in a reported ''insertion'' of P100 billion in the 2025 budget, is abroad. Officials earlier said the arrest warrant would result in the cancellation of his passport so he can brought here to face charges.

In his earlier video message, Marcos said former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Co may face plunder, anti-graft or indirect bribery charges due to their alleged involvement in the controversial flood control mess.

Marcos said all information obtained by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) against Co and Romualdez will be referred to the Ombudsman for investigation and filing of appropriate cases.

"I want to inform our countrymen that the ICI and the DPWH will refer all the information they obtained to the Ombudsman for the Ombudsman to investigate... This is about the information of former Speaker Martin Romualdez and also Zaldy Co," he said.

"When all the evidence is seen, a case for plunder, or anti-graft, or indirect bribery may be filed. We are confident that the Ombudsman only follows the evidence. And where the evidence takes us, that's where our investigation will go," he added.

Marcos posted the video message in his official Facebook page a week after Co also released a video thru his FB account accusing the President together with Romualdez and other cabinet members of organizing the alleged "insertions" of P100 billion in the 2025 national budget.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon was accompanied by ICI member Rogelio Singson in submitting the referral to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Dizon said they have recommended cases for violation of the Anti-Plunder Law and RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and direct bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code.

Dizon said it is now up to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to initiate an investigation.

Dizon said they also included the sworn statement of Orly Guteza, the former Marine who accused Romualdez of receiving kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.

They excluded Co's revelations in a series of videos posted on Facebook claiming that Marcos reportedly received a P25 billion kickback from P100 billion worth of project insertions in the 2025 national budget as his allegations were not made under oath.

If Go wants his accusations against Marcos to be included as evidence, Dizon and Singson said he should return to the country and testify under oath. Robina Asido/DMS