MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced that seven suspects linked to the multi-million peso flood control anomaly are now under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), with more high-profile arrests expected in the coming weeks.

Four months after the scandal surfaced, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the public should expect the arrest of bigger personalities involved in the case. “Big fish are coming soon. We should expect the Discayas, senators, congressman in the next five weeks sunod-sunod na sila. Walang La Catedral dito, i-treat sila kagaya ng mga karamihan,” he said.

Remulla assured that the detained suspects — mostly Department of Public Works and Highways officials in MIMAROPA — will receive no special treatment and will be protected while in custody. They will be subject to the same rules, services, and daily activities as other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Six of the arrested suspects — Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben delos Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Felisardo Casuno, Juliet Calvo, and Engr. Dennis Abagon — are held at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas. One female suspect, Lerma Cayco, is detained at the Camp Caringal Female Dormitory. All seven face charges of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery before the Office of the Ombudsman’s Sixth and Seventh Divisions.

Another suspect was allowed to post bail for falsification of documents and will undergo trial before the Ombudsman’s Fifth Division.

As for suspects still abroad, Remulla said those in the United States and Qatar have until Thursday to surrender at the nearest Philippine embassy. “We have copies of their passports, mahahanap namin sila kahit saan sila magpunta,” he said.

He added that locating alleged mastermind and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has been difficult due to reports he holds two passports. Remulla said police tracker teams have been deployed overseas after confirming Co’s movement across the United States, Europe, Singapore, Spain, Portugal, and Japan. “Umuwi ka na, kailangan mo managot sa batas,” he said.

The Interior Secretary also disclosed that one suspect was arrested inside the residence of a Mindoro vice mayor. The local official, along with household members and staff, will be investigated and may face obstruction of justice charges.

Remulla urged the public not to aid individuals evading arrest. “Huwag n’yo na po tulungan ang mga nagtatago. Kung mahal n’yo sila, mahalin ninyo ang inyong mga sarili,” he said.

BJMP Jail Director Ruel Rivera said the six male detainees will be housed together in one room, receiving the same food, water, and access to 24-hour in-house medical care as other PDLs. He noted that the BJMP food allocation was recently increased from P70 to P100 per PDL per day.

Family visits will be allowed daily except Monday and Friday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with two to five visitors at a time and cooked food permitted subject to inspection.

The New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory Building A is currently at 80 percent occupancy, with 14 vacant cells. Each cell can accommodate up to 10 detainees, while Building B remains empty. Each building can house up to 3,000 PDLs.