Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763684233685cropped-photo-collage.png (1).png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former congressman Zaldy Co and Rep. Martin Romualdez. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (3rd UPDATE) </strong>— The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Friday recommended plunder, graft, and bribery charges against former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co on their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/21/ici-dpwh-info-on-zaldy-romualdez-could-lead-to-graft-plunder-charges-marcos-0724">ICI, DPWH info on Zaldy, Romualdez could lead to graft, plunder charges - Marcos</a></div><p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon appeared before the Office of the Ombudsman with ICI chairman Andres Reyes and ICI commissioner Rogelio Singson to recommend the possible complaints against Romualdez and Co regarding their involvement in anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>“The recommended action… these are Violation of Republic Act 7080 or an Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder. Violations of Section 3A, B, and E, and H of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. And finally, Violation of Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code on Direct Bribery,” Dizon said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid036KK4o7otB87Wtn4uP5NTEBKtuvTKUvxK2yWkcA3cS6QpyGfqCti6zVgD4Mz4fbjRl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="703" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Following DPWH and ICI&#x27;s filing, Romualdez in a statement said he is ready to face any investigation.</p><p>The joint referral of the DPWH and ICI will undergo fact-finding under the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>EVIDENCE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Dizon said their evidence included over P100 billion worth of contracts from 2016 to 2025 awarded to Sunwest Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction, both linked to Co. He added that they based their findings on the sworn statement of whistleblower Orly Guteza, among others.</p><p>Guteza earlier alleged that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Co and Romualdez.</p><p>“Ang facts, simple lang. Si Speaker Martin Romualdez, siya ang main speaker from 2022 to 2025. Si former congressman Zaldy Co ang napili na Committee on Appropriations chairman. Sinasabi ng referral na ito ay dun sa relationship na iyon, nangyari itong mga iba&#x27;t ibang kontratang ito,” Dizon said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1357975035985568%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Singson said the officials involved cannot evade accountability.</p><p>&quot;They have direct responsibility to discharge the duties of their office. Kaya hindi pwede hugas kamay dito. Otherwise, dapat hindi nila tinanggap yung responsibilidad,&quot; Singson said.</p><p>Singson added that they expect to receive additional documents in the coming weeks on projects handled by the contractors earlier flagged by the President, as well as reports from joint AFP–PNP ground units.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TIMELINE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla maintained that the referral against Romualdez and Co will have to be evaluated for evidence before any decision on filing the case before the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>&quot;We will have to evaluate it. We have to look at the contents of the recommendation and the attached documents so we will know how to act on the matter. Kasi everything is evidence-based. We cannot file cases without the evidence as part of our filing,&quot; Remulla said.</p><p>Remulla did not give a definite timeline.</p><p>&quot;It can take from a few days to a few months. We don&#x27;t know. Depende yan sa dami ng ebidensyang makukuha kaagad,&quot; Remulla said, </p><p>&quot;Basta, we will follow the evidence.&quot;</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier announced that information gathered on allegedly corrupt or improper flood control projects will be referred to the Ombudsman for investigation.</p><p>In a video statement, the President confirmed the probe would look into information concerning Romualdez, his cousin, and resigned lawmaker Co.</p><p>“Like what our President said, we have faith in the process, we have faith in our Ombudsman, we have faith in our courts when this reaches them,” Dizon added. <strong>—With reports from Vivienne Gulla and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8xef49h7Hq8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rrqIw4-sC0E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The DPWH brought dozens of boxes of case files to the Office of the Ombudsman ahead of the case referral on Friday morning.</p>

The DPWH brought dozens of boxes of case files to the Office of the Ombudsman ahead of the case referral on Friday morning.

DPWH, ICI recommend plunder raps vs Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co

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DPWH, ICI recommend plunder raps vs Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co

Kaxandra Salonga,

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 21, 2025 08:14 AM PHT

|

Updated November 29, 2025 10:37 AM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

Zaldy Co

Martin Romualdez

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