November 21, 2025 | 10:26am
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommended on Friday, November 21, the filing of plunder and graft charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former lawmaker Zaldy Co before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The referral of charges was made in tandem with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order — publicly shared in a news release — for both agencies to turn over all evidence gathered in their ongoing probe on anomalous flood control works to the Ombudsman.
In a video message released through the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos said the Ombudsman would review the material and determine whether plunder, anti-graft or bribery cases should be filed.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the potential violations are:
- Plunder under Republic Act 7080;
- Violations of Sections 3(A), (B), (E) and (H) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; and
- Direct bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code.
The joint referral cites contracts from Sunwest Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction spanning 2016 to 2025, as well as sworn testimony from retired Sgt. Orly Guteza regarding Romualdez and Co during recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.
Marcos said the Ombudsman will decide based on the documentary and testimonial evidence gathered by the DPWH and ICI.
“Once all the evidence is reviewed, the Ombudsman may file plunder, anti-graft, or indirect bribery charges,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. “The Ombudsman simply follows where the evidence leads.”
In September, Marcos vowed that even Romualdez, his first cousin, would not be spared from the investigations into the flood control fund scandal.
Romualdez, meanwhile, maintained that no evidence links him to any wrongdoing.
“Throughout all these proceedings, no sworn or credible evidence has ever linked me to any irregularity, and again, my conscience remains clear,” Romualdez said in a statement released by his office.
The former House speaker noted that he had willingly showed up to the ICI’s previous hearings and had remained in the country.
“I trust in the Ombudsman’s impartial and thorough review and evaluation. I do so with confidence that a fair and complete assessment of the record will reflect the truth,” he said.
Co — former House appropriations chair — has yet to return to the Philippines despite multiple charges being recommended against him.
In October, Guteza, who claimed to be Co’s former security aide, testified at a Senate hearing that he personally delivered 35 suitcases of cash to Romualdez.
But Guteza’s claim unraveled when the lawyer who allegedly notarized his affidavit disowned it, saying she never signed the document.