On October 21, 2025, the Philippine government announced the completion and readiness of a new 800-bed jail facility in Metro Manila, a move that signals a pivotal turn in the country’s ongoing battle against large-scale corruption in public infrastructure projects. The unveiling of the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas comes as authorities brace for a flood of indictments stemming from a massive corruption probe into sham flood defense projects—a scandal that has sparked public outrage, street protests, and demands for accountability at the highest levels of government.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, in a media briefing, showcased the facility and made it clear that the new jail would be used to detain not just lower-level contractors but also powerful legislators, public works officials, and private contractors implicated in the multimillion-dollar scam. According to Associated Press and local media, Remulla estimated that as many as 200 individuals could be indicted by the Sandiganbayan, the country’s anti-graft court, following the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) submission of collated fraud audit reports to the Ombudsman earlier this month.
The New Quezon City Jail, designed with 80 dormitories—each intended for 10 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs)—features five double-deck bunk beds per room, shared bathroom facilities (including one sink, one toilet, and one shower per room), purified drinking water dispensers, ceiling fans for ventilation, and well-lit spaces to address the chronic problem of overcrowding that plagues many Philippine detention centers. The facility also prohibits cellphones, computers, and external communication gadgets, with strict monitoring to ensure security and prevent privileged communication.
Beyond the basic dormitories, the jail includes communal and rehabilitative spaces in line with modern penological standards: a dedicated laundry area, a chapel for spiritual support, regulated visitation and receiving areas (where relatives can bring cooked food), private cubicles for lawyer-client consultations, outdoor exercise and recreation areas, and on-site access to basic healthcare services. Separate wings have been established for male and female detainees, and the overall capacity is scalable to accommodate up to 800 PDLs, according to the Inquirer.
Remulla emphasized that the proximity of the facility to the Sandiganbayan court in Quezon City was a key factor in its selection, aiming to streamline the judicial process for those facing trial. "What we are preparing are regular jail cells," Remulla said during the press conference, as reported by AP. "If a shoplifter who stole a bottle of lotion worth 100 pesos ($1.7) from a shopping mall could be detained here, the ones who stole billions and billions in my view should be similarly locked up here." He further assured the public that there would be no "VIP treatment" for high-profile detainees, a pointed response to longstanding criticisms of double standards in the Philippine justice system. "The same rules of the jail will apply to the rich and poor," Remulla added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration has faced mounting pressure to address the scandal, which involves allegations of kickbacks and ghost projects in the country’s flood control program. The anomalies reportedly implicate dozens of Congress members, government engineers, and construction company owners. According to AP, televised congressional inquiries have featured testimony under oath alleging that influential figures—including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin, and Senate President Francis Escudero—were allotted huge kickbacks from flood control projects. Both Romualdez and Escudero have stepped down from their posts and denied the allegations.
The scale of the alleged corruption is staggering. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told legislators last month that up to 118.5 billion pesos (more than $2 billion) worth of flood control projects may have been lost to graft since 2023 alone. The Independent Commission for Infrastructure, established by President Marcos after raising alarm over the issue in his July state of the nation address, has recommended charges against 18 government officials—including former Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co—in connection with a 289.5-million peso project in Oriental Mindoro. However, the Ombudsman has yet to act on these recommendations or elevate the case to the Sandiganbayan.
As the government touts its readiness to detain suspects, human rights advocates and watchdog groups have raised concerns about the fairness and legality of the process. On October 21, 2025, the support group Kapatid criticized Secretary Remulla for suggesting that accused individuals could petition for their preferred place of detention. Kapatid called the statement "not only blatantly illegal but [also] a callous insult that trivializes the severity of corruption," citing legal provisions that mandate detainees be housed “subject to court orders” and based on proximity, not personal preference. The group warned that such remarks risk sending a "dangerous signal"—that the wealthy and influential may be able to buy comfort while the poor languish in overcrowded, inhumane conditions. “What kind of justice system allows those accused of stealing billions to choose their place of detention while political prisoners—many elderly and ailing—are left to rot in congested, filthy, and inhumane conditions, denied even the most basic rights?” asked Fides Lim, Kapatid’s spokesperson, as quoted by the Inquirer.
Despite the government’s assurances of equal treatment, skepticism persists. The Philippine prison system has long been criticized for overcrowding and inadequate facilities, with the population surging especially during the so-called war on drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte. The new Quezon City Jail, with its modern amenities and emphasis on preventing overcrowding, is being positioned as a model for future Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities—provided sufficient budget is approved.
Meanwhile, the DOJ and other agencies continue to build cases, coordinate evidence gathering, and trace assets as they prepare for possible referrals to the Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan. Malacañang, the presidential palace, has stated that the government is ready to imprison anyone found guilty of corruption in connection with the flood-control projects, but also cautioned that investigations are ongoing and some eventual charges may be bailable offenses.
For now, the readiness of the new detention facility stands as a tangible symbol of the government’s attempt to restore public trust and demonstrate its willingness to follow through on promises of accountability. As the legal process unfolds, many Filipinos are watching closely—hoping that this time, justice will be served without fear or favor.
