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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez, Co, Villar to be summoned by ICI over flood control projects mess

Romualdez, Co, Villar to be summoned by ICI over flood control projects mess

Published Oct 1, 2025 03:23 pm

At A Glance

  • The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) plans to invite Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to its ongoing investigation on the multi-billion peso, anomalous flood control projects.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) plans to invite Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to its ongoing investigation on the multi-billion peso, anomalous flood control projects.
ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka made the announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 1, as the President-commissioned body continued to shed light on the "ghost" and substandard projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Aside from Romualdez and Co, former DPWH chief Mark Villar--an incumbent senator--will also be subpoenaed by the body, said Hosaka.
"Because (Villar) was a former secretary of the DPWH," he said.
Romualdez, who served as House Speaker from July 2022 to Sept. 2025 was first dragged into the corruption scandal by former Marine Orly Guteza during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last Sept. 25.
During the hearing, Guteza read his signed affidavit and claimed that he delivered several suitcases containing wads of cash to the supposed residence of Romualdez. The affidavit eventually turned out to be illegally notarized. 
Romualdez denied the allegation, and said the testimony made by Guteza--who was brought in as surprise witness of Senator Rodante Marcoleta--was "an outright and complete fabrication".
He said it was "nothing more than a desperate attempt to link me to supposed kickbacks where none exist".
"Pilit na pilit (It's very forced)," Romualdez said.
ICI will also invite Co, former chairperson of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, the panel that oversees the passage of the government's yearly budget.
Co, a successful businessman, was also accused to have received hundreds of millions in kickbacks from flood control projects. Co has also denied the accusation.
Aside from Guteza, DPWH officials—including former DPWH officials Usec. Roberto Bernardo, Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, and Bulacan Assistant District Engineers Brian Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza—have implicated Co in the corruption controversy.
Villar will also be summoned as he was the head of the embattled agency from 2016 to 2021—the time when many ghost and substandard projects were approved.
ICI launched its probe on Sep. 19 upon the order of President Marcos, who made the corruption in flood control projects a major talking point during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.
Other key personalities, including controversial contractor-couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya as well as DPWH officials, are already under the microscope.
Co has yet to tell his side of the story as he remains abroad supposedly for medical purposes.
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