The Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have taken a significant step in addressing alleged corruption in government infrastructure projects by recommending criminal charges against two former lawmakers.
Massive Evidence Submission to Ombudsman
On Friday, November 21, 2025, top officials formally submitted their recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman to file cases against former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co. The recommendation stems from their alleged involvement in anomalies surrounding flood control projects worth billions of pesos.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, ICI chairperson Andres Reyes, and former Public Works Secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson personally turned over boxes of evidence to support the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery charges against Romualdez and Co. The evidence relates to government contracts valued at over P100 billion.
Construction Companies and Cash Deliveries
According to Secretary Dizon, the infrastructure contracts in question were awarded to Sunwest Corporation and Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp., construction companies linked to Representative Co. Investigation revealed that these two companies were among the top 15 construction firms that secured approximately 20 percent of all flood control projects between 2022 and 2025, equivalent to about P100 billion in government contracts.
The recommendation gained additional support from the testimony of retired Marine Orly Guteza before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Guteza, who previously served as a security aide to Co, disclosed that one of their duties involved delivering millions of cash in multiple suitcases to the residence of Martin Romualdez.
"Hindi namin sasabihing recommended kung wala kaming nakikitang basehan," Dizon emphasized, underscoring the substantial evidence supporting their recommendation.
Unsworn Statements and Budget Insertions
Dizon clarified that Co's video statement against Romualdez, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., and other officials was not included in the formal recommendation because it did not constitute a sworn testimony. In his previous statements, Co had implicated Marcos in the P100 billion insertion in the national budget and claimed he delivered P56 billion to both Marcos and Romualdez - allegations that the mentioned officials have strongly denied.
The DPWH secretary challenged Co to return to the Philippines and swear to his statements under oath, suggesting this would strengthen the case and provide clearer evidence for the ongoing investigation into what appears to be one of the largest infrastructure corruption scandals in recent years.
