Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

📷༘ Edwin Gardiola/Facebook

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN Research and Verification Unit

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764745055780482210715_626660756778315_5742845806885998344_n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>📷༘ Edwin Gardiola/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he expects over 10 percent of Congress would be affected by the investigation into corruption in government programs, including flood control projects.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/ici-eyes-raps-vs-congtractors-1352">ICI seeks raps vs lawmakers with construction firms that bagged DPWH projects</a></div><p>From the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) joint referral alone, one former and seven incumbent congressmen were already named as individuals that supposedly own or are linked to construction firms with government projects.</p><p>Among the eight is Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS) party-list Representative Edwin Gardiola.</p><p>While majority of the people on the list have just one project awardee contractor to their name, Gardiola noticeably had three: Newington Builders, Inc., formerly Gardiola Construction, Lourel Development Corporation, and S-Ang General Construction &amp; Trading, Inc.</p><p>Based on data collated by the ABS-CBN Research and Verification Unit (RVU) from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), there is one more contractor linked to Gardiola– Redinex Construction and Trading.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/27/rep-gardiola-breaks-silence-on-flood-control-corruption-issue-welcomes-probe-1219">Rep. Gardiola denies involvement in anomalous flood control projects</a></div><p>All four construction companies secured a total of P38.2 billion in infrastructure projects, according to information from the DPWH Transparency Portal.</p><p>But aside from these alleged links to government contractors, what else do we know so far about the congressman?</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FOR TAX EVASION</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764745071358484545745_631433632967694_3275517567245803758_n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>📷༘ Edwin Gardiola/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>Prior to assuming office in Congress, Gardiola faced a criminal complaint in 2012 over an attempt to evade or defeat tax and failure to give accurate information in his 2006 Income Tax Return (ITR).</p><p>The BIR filed the complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ), also citing failure to file an ITR for 2007 to 2009.</p><p>According to an article by the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.dof.gov.ph/purchaser-of-luxury-cars-rides-tax-evasion-net/">Department of Finance </a>(DOF), the BIR found Gardiola paid income tax in 2006 “grossly disproportionate” to the amount paid for a motor vehicle, a BMW 74511, worth P4.75 million.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SOLIDARITY PARTY-LIST</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764745147780482120744_626660893444968_5551101151437131094_n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>📷༘ Edwin Gardiola/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>Fast forward to a decade later, Gardiola entered Congress as the CWS party-list representative in 2022.</p><p>Based on the party-list’s <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://comelec.gov.ph/php-tpls-attachments/2022NLE/SOCE/SOCE2022NLE_PartyList.pdf - Page 91">Statement of Contributions and Expenditures</a> (SOCE) for the 2022 polls found on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) website, CWS’ total expenditures incurred was at P12,674,620.27.</p><p>The same party-list faced a disqualification case early in 2025 over alleged vote-buying due to giving out brand new cars at a Batangas event.</p><p>According to complainants, the party-list raffled off three cars back in February 13, falling within the 90-day campaign period for the May 2025 elections.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GARDIOLA IN CONGRESS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764744841658506940744_699396322838091_5444895245715399954_n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>📷༘ Edwin Gardiola/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>Gardiola has 80 principal authored bills to his name, including House Bill 006608 or an act establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund.</p><p>Also among these bills is House Bill 004488 or the General Appropriations Bill for January to December 2023 detailing the national budget.</p><p>Gardiola is a member of 11 committees, including the Committee on Appropriations, which tackles the annual budget. </p><p>He is also part of the committees on Local Government and Transportation.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ALLEGATIONS OF LINKS TO INFRA PROJECT ANOMALIES</strong></div><p>Since flood control project anomalies hit the headlines, various reports also came out about Gardiola&#x27;s supposed links to government contractors.</p><p>Many tackled Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste&#x27;s tagging of Gardiola as the second biggest &quot;proponent&quot; in the DPWH&#x27;s infrastructure projects, just second to former lawmaker Zaldy Co.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/18/leviste-tags-cws-party-list-rep-gardiola-as-2nd-biggest-proponent-in-infra-projects-1836">READ: Leviste tags CWS Party-list Rep. Gardiola as 2nd biggest &#x27;proponent&#x27; in infra projects</a></div><p>Leviste also requested that the ICI look into the matter, meeting with an ICI commissioner to present documents on this. </p><p>Later on, however, ICI Executive Director Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka denied issuing a statement about ICI confirming Leviste&#x27;s research on Gardiola being the biggest contractor in Congress, as earlier alleged by Legiste. </p><p>Leviste also accused Gardiola of buying some <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/11/19/gardiola-linked-companies-bought-some-p22b-in-dpwh-projects-leviste-1924">P22 billion worth of DPWH projects</a> in the 2025 budget.</p><p>In the same month, Gardiola was named by the ICI and DPWH in its joint referral to the Office of the Ombudsman about &quot;congtractors&quot; over plunder, graft, direct bribery, and violations of the Government Procurement Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, specifically a provision on conflict of interest.</p><p>The ICI and the DPWH recommended these cases against eight individuals, including Gardiola. </p><p>The joint referral says 211 infrastructure projects worth over P24 billion were awarded to three Gardiola-linked firms from 2016 to 2024.</p><p>But as earlier mentioned, data from the DPWH and the SEC shows P38.2 billion worth of projects had been given to four, instead of just three, Gardiola-linked firms. </p><p>According to the latest corporate filings, Rep. Gardiola&#x27;s wife, Judy Gardiola, and four children own S-Ang.</p><p>Elaine Gardiola, the wife of Rep. Gardiola&#x27;s brother, Alberto Elmer Gardiola, is the majority shareholder of Newington.</p><p>Her husband and their two children are listed as shareholders as well.</p><p>Lourel is majority-owned by Loubelie Gardiola, the wife of another one of Rep. Gardiola&#x27;s brothers, Batangas Vice Mayor Earel Benedicto Gardiola.</p><p>The couple&#x27;s children also hold shares in this company.</p><p>And the firm not listed in the ICI and DPWH&#x27;s joint referral, Redinex, is connected to one of the daughters of Loubelie and Earel Gardiola, as well as Alyanna Gardiola, based on information from PCAB.</p><p>From just P1.6 billion in 2016, contract amounts won by Gardiola-owned companies jumped to P11.4 billion in 2025.</p><p>Gardiola has since denied involvement in anomalous infrastructure projects. </p><p>The House lawmaker added, he is willing to face the witness who implicated him &quot;<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/27/rep-gardiola-breaks-silence-on-flood-control-corruption-issue-welcomes-probe-1219">in the proper forum</a>.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><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/XG8DPpZRUkQ?&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/UJ4b6QNJzck?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Edwin Gardiola entered Congress as the CWS party-list representative in 2022.</p>

What we know about Rep. Edwin Gardiola following 'congtractor' allegations

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What we know about Rep. Edwin Gardiola following 'congtractor' allegations

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News,

ABS-CBN Research and Verification Unit

Published December 03, 2025 04:44 PM PHT

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Updated December 05, 2025 05:08 PM PHT

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Edwin Gardiola

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