Marcos says seven suspects in Philippine graft scandal detained

[MANILA] Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said seven suspects tied to the corruption scandal on flood infrastructure are now in the custody of authorities, while efforts are underway to arrest those who are still at large. 

The arrests come just days after Marcos announced that warrants were issued against 18 individuals including former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is among those who remain at large, according to Marcos.

The Philippine leader, in a video on his Facebook account, warned those accused to surrender to authorities and face the charges leveled at them. Those who will try to coddle them would answer to authorities for protecting any “fugitive from justice,” he said.

The Marcos administration is boosting efforts to hold to account those involved in the multibillion-dollar graft mess surrounding flood-control projects in one of the world’s most typhoon-prone countries.

The scandal, which Marcos first exposed in July, has ignited public anger, caused economic growth to slow sharply in the third quarter and has weakened both the peso and stocks.

Last week, two of Marcos’ Cabinet secretaries quit as the government moves to restore public trust and investor confidence. BLOOMBERG