MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said seven of the 16 individuals facing warrants of arrest over an alleged anomalous flood control project have been taken into custody.

In a video message, Marcos said one of the seven was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), while six others surrendered to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG). He added that two more accused have indicated plans to surrender.

The President urged the remaining suspects to turn themselves in and warned that individuals who may be helping them evade arrest will also face charges.

“‘Yung isa pong nahuli ng NBI natagpuan hindi sa kanyang sariling tahanan, kaya’t mananagot din ‘yung mga nagtatago sa kanila,” he said.

“Sa mga nagtatangkang tumulong sa pagtatago, tandaan ninyo na kahit papaano mananagot din kayo kung kayo ay nagtatago ng isang fugitive from justice,” Marcos added. “Tuloy-tuloy po ito. Hindi kami titigil. Hindi kami hihinto.”

Marcos said those already arrested will not receive special treatment and will remain under NBI custody pending the next court order.

He also called on the other accused, including resigned Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Zaldy Co, to surrender to authorities and face the allegations.

“Muli, sa tatlong warrant at labing-anim na pangalan, pito na ang hawak ng ating awtoridad, dalawa susuko na. Pito ang mananatiling at large at kasama na diyan si Zaldy Co,” he said.

“Sa lahat ng natitirang akusado, ang aking payo sa inyo ay sumuko na kayo. Huwag niyo nang antayin na habul-habulin pa kayo. Mas maganda para sa sitwasyon ninyo na sumuko na kayo para maganda ang inyong pagsagot sa mga alegasyon na dinala kontra sa inyo,” the President added.

Last Friday, Marcos said law enforcement authorities would serve arrest warrants against Co, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and executives of Sunwest Corporation. They were charged by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan for graft and malversation of public funds over a major flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

The case follows an investigation Marcos initiated during his Fourth State of the Nation Address last July 28, where he ordered a probe into irregularities in flood control projects. The effort has since progressed through the launch of the Sumbong ng Pangulo website on August 11 and the creation of the ICI on September 11 to look into corruption in infrastructure projects over the past decade.