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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Revilla, Zaldy Co named additional respondents in 'ghost' flood control projects in Bulacan

Bong Revilla, Zaldy Co named additional respondents in 'ghost' flood control projects in Bulacan

Published Dec 5, 2025 04:47 pm
Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and resigned congressman Zaldy Co have been named as additional respondents in two of the five cases involving “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday, Dec. 5.
Two of the five cases involving “ghost” projects undertaken by the Syms Construction are still under preliminary investigation. Three of the five cases have been submitted for resolution.
The projects were located in the towns of Balagtas and Pandi.
DOJ Spokesperson Prosecution Attorney Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said the charges in the five cases include malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents under Article 217 in relation to Article 171 Paragraph 4 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); perjury under Article 183 of the RPC; and Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
With the inclusion of Revilla and Co, the preliminary investigation of the two cases will continue, he said.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon told journalists on Friday, Dec 5, that the two additional respondents were given more time to submit their respective counter-affidavits in response to the allegations.
“That extension will be for a period of five days,” Fadullon said.
Thereafter, he said, if there are no other pleadings that will be submitted, those cases will be submitted for resolution as well.
He added that more respondents were added since “there were pieces of evidence that were submitted by the National Bureau of Investigation and, this time, it included proponents.”
He expressed hopes that by Dec. 15, the panel of prosecutors would be able to come up with a resolution on the five cases to determine whether the charges would be dismissed or would be filed in courts.
At the same time, Fadullon said the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has deputized the DOJ to conduct preliminary investigation on three “ghost” flood control projects involving officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and contractors Syms, Wawao, and Topnotch.
Panels have been created to conduct the preliminary investigation, he said.
“We expect all the documents to be completed by the National Bureau of Investigation so that the subpoenas can be issued and the preliminary investigation can commence,” he added.
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