The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended the filing of corruption, bribery and plunder charges against four former and incumbent lawmakers as well as two other government officials over the anomalous flood control projects.

But how exactly are these people involved in the shocking, billion-peso corruption scandal?

In its 19-page interim report, ICI revealed the alleged hand of Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada; former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co; former Caloocan 2nd district representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy; Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana; and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo's respective involvements in the anomaly.

ICI's report was based on testimonies and affidavits of various resource persons—notably former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former DPWH Bulacan 1st district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza—during the conduct of its investigation in the past 44 days.

Although the report did not fully establish the individuals' alleged links to the anomaly, it still provided some details on how they could be involved in alleged corruption.

The ICI said that Senator Villanueva allegedly asked Alcantara to build a multipurpose building, with a P1.5-billion price tag but only at a cost of P600 million.

It wasn't clear in the ICI report if Villanueva's proposal was granted, but it stated that: "To appease the displeased Sen. Villanueva, [DPWH] Usec. [Roberto] Bernardo and Engr. Alcantara were forced to “gumawa ng paraan" (find ways)."

In another instance of Villanueva's alleged involvement, ICI said that a 25 percent kickback was to be given to the senator for a project that would come out from his unused P600-million funds under the 2023 unprogrammed allocations (UA).

ICI said Hernandez testified to having delivered money to Villanueva's alleged aide named "Peng," and also P150 million in cash to the senator himself, as supposed kickbacks.

Meanwhile, Estrada's alleged involvement in the anomaly came up after he relayed to Alcantara that he had been allocated P355 million worth of funds for flood control projects.

Taking the hint, Alcantara asked his subordinates prepare a list of possible projects to be presented, which a certain "Carlo Rivera" eventually did.

"Like the other transactions, 25 percent of the amounts were supposed to be given to the proponent," ICI said.

Since then, a certain Mina, a representative of a construction firm, and a certain Beng Ramos had been in constant communication both with Alcantara and Hernandez to inquire about Estrada's projects.

Citing testimonies from Alcantara and Hernandez, the ICI said "large sums" of money were delivered to Co as supposed kickbacks from the government's infrastructure projects between 2022 and 2025. They were also called as "SOP" (standard operating procedure), according to ICI.

At least P22 billion in cash was allegedly delivered to Co's penthouse and Pasig residence in a span of four years. The money was allegedly placed inside large pieces of luggages and was brought there via service vehicles.

Co--the House Committee on Appropriations chairman at that time--allegedly proposed projects in three ways: through the National Expenditure Program (NEP); the Bicameral Conference Committee (bicam) that was part of the proceedings of Congress before the passage of the General Appropriations Act (GAA); and through unprogrammed allocations (UA) in the GAA.

"Each and every time Cong. Zaldy proposes a project Engr. Alcantara gives an obligation based on the project budget and their agreement. For 2022, Cong. Zaldy asked for 20 percent, and in 2023 up to 2025 he asked for 25 percent of the value of the funding of a project," ICI explained.

ICI said Cajayon-Uy allegedly asked for projects to be implemented by Alcantara's district engineering office.

"In 2022 about P411 million worth of projects was approved from her insertions in the GAA. Cong. Mitch asked for 10 percent in exchange and was given to her in a restaurant somewhere along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City," ICI's report read.

ICI said Hernandez testified that Lipana "went to DEO (district engineering office) of Bulacan to ask Engr. Alcantara to give the final billing of the street lights project in Bustos, Bulacan even though its accomplishment is still on-going".

"Comm. Lipana secured funding for projects using the license of his wife’s company... as the contractor," ICI's report read.

"However, Engr. Hernandez never delivered money to Comm. Lipana as his SOP was already deducted even before the funds reach the DEO," it added.

Meanwhile, Bernardo, who was a DPWH undersecretary, was also a proponent of infrastructure projects worth a total of P1.065 billion. He allegedly received kickbacks from these.