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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ICI seeks plunder, graft, bribery raps vs Romualdez, Co

ICI seeks plunder, graft, bribery raps vs Romualdez, Co

Published Nov 21, 2025 09:27 am  |  Updated Nov 21, 2025 01:31 pm

At A Glance

  • Plunder, graft and indirect bribery charges have been recommended by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) against former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co in relation to anomalous flood control projects.
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Plunder, graft and indirect bribery charges have been recommended by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) against former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co in relation to anomalous flood control projects.
The charges were referred to the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, Nov. 21, in connection to the more than P100 billion worth of flood control projects secured by Co's Sunwest construction firm and Hi-Tone Construction in a span of 10 years, according to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.
Dizon, in a joint press conference with ICI member Babes Singson, said the fresh referral case prepared by the DPWH was based on the "collection of facts" during the ICI hearings as well as the sworn affidavits gathered from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
On Friday morning, both DPWH and ICI submitted their referral cases, along with the government contracts of Sunwest and Hi-Tone from 2016 to 2025..
"In this referral, it's only former Speaker, Martin Romualdez and former congressman Zaldy Co," Dizon said.
Dizon deferred to the Ombudsman for its investigation when asked about Co and Romualdez' involvement in the anomalous flood control projects. He said DPWH and ICI were merely referring cases for the Ombudsman's own investigation and eventual filing of charges.
But he expressed confidence that the DPWH and ICI's fact-finding efforts managed to secure evidence to help the Ombudsman get a conviction.
"Pero, like I said earlier... ito yung facts and ang facts, [former] Speaker Martin Romualdez, sya ang naging Speaker noong 2022 to 2025. Si former congressman Zaldy Co ang napili na Committee on Appropriations chairman (But like I said earlier, these are the facts, and the facts are Romualdez became House Speaker from 2022 to 2025, and he chose Co to become the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations)," Dizon said.
"At ang sinasabi ng referral na 'to ay doon sa relationship na 'yun, nangyari itong iba't ibang mga kontratang ito. 'Yun ang nangyari (And this referral states that under this relationship, the flood control project contracts happened. That's the fact)," he added.
"Ngayon, yung para madetermine kung ito ba ay sapat para mag-file ng charges of plunder, violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices act, bribery, 'yan ay pinapasa na natin sa Ombudsman, kasi 'yan 'yung proseso... Pero sa aming palagay, merong basehan (Now, in determining if there are enough evidence to file plunder, graft and bribery charges against them, we are passing it to the Ombudsman to process. But we believe, there are basis)," Dizon also said.
For the referred charges against Romualdez, Dizon said they were based on the sworn statement made by former Marine Orly Gutezza during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. His whereabouts are unknown.
Singson also believed Romualdez had a hand in the anomalous flood control projects, as he cited government officials' oath of office "to faithfully discharge their duties, bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, and obey its laws and orders and undertake the obligation voluntarily".
"Kasi [puro] denial eh. [They always said they] assumed regularity. Ang parati kong naririnig, from all the witnesses, they assumed regularity, hugas kamay... Hindi pwede 'yun. May sinumpaan kang salaysay (They were all in denial, saying they assumed regularity. That's what I'd always heard from the witnesses, that they assumed regularity. They would wash wands, and that couldn't be possible, since they were under oath)," Singson said.
Friday's referral cases were the latest in the string of recommended charges to the Ombudsman in relation to the billion-peso anomalous flood control projects.
Other personalities who were also recommended for charges were former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan; former DPWH undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Maria Catalina Cabral; former DPWH district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza; and contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, among others.
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