The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will now turn over all evidence they have gathered on alleged flood control anomalies to the Office of the Ombudsman, President Marcos announced.

In a video message uploaded to his social media accounts on Friday morning, Nov. 21, the President said the turnover will include information involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former congressman Zaldy Co.

“Nais kong ipaalam sa ating mga kababayan na ang ICI at saka ang DPWH ay lahat ng nakuha nila na impormasyon ay irerefer, ibibigay na sa Ombudsman para imbestigahan (I want to inform the people that all information gathered by the ICI and DPWH will be turned over to the Ombudsman for investigation),” he said.

“Ito ay tungkol sa mga impormasyon ng dating Speaker Martin Romualdez at saka ni Zaldy Co (These are all information surrounding former speaker Romualdez and Zaldy Co),” he added.

Marcos said that once the Ombudsman receives the documents, prosecutors may consider cases such as “plunder, anti-graft, or indirect bribery.”

He reiterated that the administration is removing politics from the equation by ensuring the probe proceeds under an independent constitutional body.

“Malakas naman ang loob natin na ang Ombudsman ay sumusunod lamang sa ebidensya (We are confident that the Ombudsman will follow the evidence),” he said.

“Kung saan tayo dinadala ng ebidensya, doon pupunta ang ating imbestigasyon (Where the evidence takes us, that is where our investigation will go,” he added.

The planned turnover comes after months of inquiries, following the President’s inspection of unfinished and “ghost” flood control structures in Iloilo, Bulacan, and other areas.

Malacañang earlier refuted Co’s accusations against President Marcos, with Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez describing his videos as “nothing but hearsay,” and challenging him to return to the Philippines and testify under oath.

PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro also said the timeline and documents presented by Co contradict his own claims, adding that his allegations “raise more questions than they answer.”

Officials likewise pointed out that the President vetoed P194 billion in questionable budget items last year — inconsistent with claims that he ordered illicit insertions.

Marcos reported last week that the ICI had already referred 37 individuals to the Ombudsman for corruption charges. While Romualdez was not among those people, the President said no one was “immune” from accountability as the investigation expands.

“If something else comes out, then he might have to be answerable for something,” he said.

President Marcos assured the public that the administration’s campaign will not stop at names already identified.

“We don’t file cases for optics. We file cases to put people in jail or to make people answer,” he said.

“Walang immune dito, walang exempted dito sa mga imbestigasyon na ito (No one is immune here; no one is exempted from these investigations),” he added.

Marcos has repeatedly encouraged the public to provide the administration with evidence so they can file cases against anyone.

“I know that there are many, many suggestions of who else we should file cases against. Well, we’re fine with that. Provide us [with] the evidence and we will file cases against them,” he said.