Plunder, graft, bribery raps recommended vs Romualdez, Co

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recommended Friday to the Ombudsman the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery charges against Leyte Representative and former Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co.

ICI member Rogelio "Babes" Singson and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon went to the Office of the Ombudsman to bring boxes of evidence against Romualdez and Co.

Dizon said their recommendation covers around P100 billion worth of government contracts that  construction firms Sunwest Corporation and Hi Tone Construction, both firms linked to Co, secured from 2016 to 2025. 

“Hindi namin sasabihing recommended kung wala kaming nakikitang basehan (We won’t recommend these charges without basis),” he said. 

He added their recommendation also gave weight to the sworn testimonies given during the Senate blue ribbon committee probe on flood control projects, particularly that of Orly Guteza.

"Isinama din po namin 'yung sworn testimonies sa Blue Ribbon hearings sa Senate related to both former Speaker Romualdez and former congressman Zaldy Co, specifically the testimony of Sgt. Orly Guteza because these are sworn testimonies under oath," Dizon said.

At the sidelines of Stratbase’s Pilipinas Conference, the Public Works chief told reporters that the submissions to the Ombudsman will now undergo the process of further investigation and case build-up.

The video of Co, on the other hand, was not included as it was not a sworn testimony, Dizon said.

"Hindi namin isinama. We cannot include statements that are not sworn, that is the most important difference. Kaya ang na-include lang namin 'yung mga sinumpaang sinabi at 'yung Facebook video ni former congressman Zaldy Co, hindi po 'yun sinumpaan kaya hindi po namin 'yun pwedeng isama," he said.

He was referring to the videos posted last week on the social media accounts of Co accusing Marcos, Romualdez, and some Cabinet members of orchestrating supposed "insertions" worth P100 billion in the national budget.

The DPWH secretary urged Co to return to the Philippines to substantiate his claims.

"Umuwi na siya," he said.

Singson said the ICI already invited Co twice.

Dizon said that the relationship between Romualdez and Co, since the latter served as House appropriations panel during Romualdez’s speakership tenure from 2022 to 2025, is factually established.

Dizon, however, declined to answer a query if their recommendation is good enough for conviction.

“That is the Ombudsman’s job [to determine],” he added.

Singson, for his part, said public officials cannot just invoke presuming regularity in government operations in defending themselves against their involvement in the flood control mess.

"Hindi puwedeng maghugas kamay ang officials. Bakit? (They cannot watch their hands off this. Why?) I will read, swearing to faithfully discharge their duties, bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, and obey its laws and orders, and undertaking the obligation voluntarily. Walang pumilit sa kanila (Nobody forced them to do it)," Singson said, referring to public officials' oath of office.

"Kaya tanggapin nila 'yung obligasyon. Tanggapin nila na kailangan silang sumunod sa mga batas. Hindi puwedeng hugas kamay dito. Otherwise, dapat hindi nila tinanggap yung responsibilidad," Singson added.

(They have to accept the obligation. They should accept their that they have to follow the law. They cannot wash their hands off this. Otherwise, they should not have accepted the responsibility.)

During an ambush interview following the Pilipinas Conference, Dizon said, “Kami ay naniniwala na malaki ang basehan ng mga facts and evidence na pinadala namin… lahat ito may dokumento, wala itong kuro-kuro, walang conjecture… walang hearsay.”

(We believe that the facts and evidence we submitted have a strong basis… all of these are backed by documents, there are no guesses, conjectures… no hearsay.)

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that the anti-graft body will file charges against Romualdez in relation with the flood control mess in the next six to nine months.

On Tuesday, the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation charges against Co, several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 4B, and Sunwest Corporation directors.

It was the first filing of criminal raps against those allegedly involved in the flood control kickback scheme.

Earlier in the day, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said criminal charges of plunder and bribery could be filed against Romualdez and Co over anomalies in flood control projects.

"Nais kong [ipaalam] sa ating mga kababayan na ang ICI  at tsaka ang DPWH ay lahat ng nakuha nila na impormasyon ay i-rerefer, ibibigay na sa Ombudsman para imbestigahan ng Ombudsman. Ito ay tungkol sa mga impormasyon ng Dating Speaker Martin Romualdez at tsaka ni Zaldy Co," Marcos said in video posted on Facebook. 

(I want to inform our countrymen that the ICI and the DPWH will refer all the information they have obtained it to the Ombudsman for the Ombudsman to investigate... This is about the information of former Speaker Martin Romualdez and also Zaldy Co.)

Romualdez has denied involvement in securing commissions from flood control projects as alleged by contractor husband and wife Curlee and Sarah Discaya during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

In September, Co also denied receiving funds from DPWH flood control projects.

Five days earlier, however, Romualdez denied involvement in the anomalous government control projects after Co accused the President of ordering the insertions worth P100 billion under the 2025 national budget. 

Likewise, Co alleged that Romualdez made the insertions happen, and that the President and Romualdez had kickbacks off such insertions.

"My conscience remains clear. Throughout this inquiry, no public official, contractor, or witness has pointed to any wrongdoing on my part. I do not wish to comment on the recent statements and allegations made by former Rep. Zaldy Co because these were not made under oath and do not hold water in the court of law," he said.

"I continue to trust the ICl, the DOJ, and the Ombudsman to evaluate all statements fairly and strictly on the basis of evidence. I remain ready to cooperate with any lawful process and I am confident that the truth will emerge through the proper institutions," he added. 

In a statement read by his lawyer on Friday, Romualdez reiterated his innocence.

"My conscience remains clear," Romualdez said in a statement read by lawyer Ade Fajardo. 

"Throughout all these proceedings, no sort of credible evidence ever linked me to any irregularity," he added.—AOL/ VDV, GMA Integrated News