QC court junks P1-B case vs. Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co, others over unpaid filing fees

A Quezon City Regional Trial Court has dismissed the P1-billion civil case filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, and several other respondents over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, citing lack of jurisdiction.

In an order dated April 15, 2026, but made public only on June 29, the court said it could not act on the complaint after the plaintiffs failed to pay the required filing fees despite being served notice as early as February 20 this year.

“As above-discussed by the court, plaintiffs failed to file the necessary action which they intend to do with the appellate court and to obtain any relief prohibiting this court to act on the case at bench. Hence, it is proper for this court to continue acting on the case,” the court said in its decision penned by Judge Madonna Echiverri.

“This court finds that [it] has not acquired jurisdiction over the case due to the plaintiffs’ failure to pay the filing fee as computed by the Office of the Clerk of Court. Wherefore, this case is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction,” it added.

The complaint for "abuse of rights and unjust enrichment" was filed in December 2025 by former Quezon City councilor Antonio Enrile Inton Jr. on behalf of the United People’s Against Corruption (UPAC) against the respondents Romualdez, Co, Vargas, several unnamed officers of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and private contractors.

Citing data compiled by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), UPAC said flood control allocations for Vargas’ district reached P944.6 million annually, or around P2.86 billion from 2023 to 2025.

Vargas’ district covers the northeastern part of Quezon City, including the Novaliches-Fairview area, as well as major roads such as Commonwealth Avenue, Quirino Highway, and parts of Regalado Avenue.

The complainants blamed the alleged failed flood control projects for persistent flooding in Quezon City, particularly in the Novaliches area.

“Despite these allocations, residents report little to no improvement in flood conditions in affected barangays... Kung may pondo, dapat may proyekto. Kung may proyekto, dapat may malinaw na resulta. At kung walang resulta, may mananagot (If there is funding, there should be projects. If there are projects, there should be clear results. And if there are no results, someone must be held accountable),” UPAC said in a statement in December 2025.

Asked for comment on the court’s dismissal of the suit, Inton said he had elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals (CA) through a petition for certiorari questioning the Quezon City RTC’s ruling.

He stressed that the case was not dismissed on the merits and remains pending before the appellate court, adding that the CA had already directed them to file their answer in connection with the petition.

According to Inton, the court set the docket fees at P20 million, based on the P1-billion damages sought in the civil complaint.

He also said the lower court ruled that he was not the proper litigant and that there was no proof he was serving as pro bono counsel.

In a statement, Vargas said the complainants’ failure to pursue the complaint by paying the filing fees showed the case was baseless from the start.

“We welcome this decision of the court. From the very start, we were confident that this case would not prosper. Gawa-gawa lamang ang mga akusasyon (The allegations are fabricated),” Vargas said.

“They are just using the courts for a smear campaign. We have always been transparent, but there are groups who want to flip the story,” he added.

Vargas also questioned the complainants’ motives, noting their failure to pursue the case.

“These instances are a grave misuse of our legal system’s time and resources,” he said.— MCG, GMA News