The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended plunder, graft, and indirect bribery charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co over anomalous flood control projects worth more than P100 billion.
Together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), ICI referred the charges to the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, Nov. 21.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the projects were awarded over a decade to Co’s Sunwest Construction and Hi-Tone Construction, raising concerns of procurement irregularities and fund misuse.
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,” 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,” he added.
GUTEZA TESTIMONY
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,” 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. (Joseph Pedrajas)
