The ongoing flood control probe could reach over 10 percent of the House of Representatives, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, after they received fresh recommendations to charge former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and seven other lawmakers of graft and other charges.
Remulla made the pronouncement in a brief press conference after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) submitted its referral to the anti-graft body.
‘Many will be affected. More than 10 percent of its members would be affected at the very least. Membership of the House,’ the Ombudsman disclosed.
‘But this is only low-hanging fruit. If this is eight, there will be around 12 to 15 more that have a conflict of interest. This will be painful, as I’ve said before; this entails a lot of sacrifice,’ he said.
Officials from the DPWH and ICI delivered boxes of their findings to the anti-graft body on Wednesday afternoon. The referral covers 1,300 infrastructure projects from 2016 to 2024.
Below is the list of seven active lawmakers named in the agencies’ joint referral report:
Construction Workers Solidarity party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola
Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr.
Pusong Pinoy party-list Rep. Jernie Nisay
Bulacan 2nd District Rep. Augustina Pancho
Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph Lara
Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Matugas
Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Rivera
In an earlier briefing, ICI chair Andres Reyes said Co and other lawmakers ‘appeared to have violated the Code of Conduct for Government Officials and the Anti-Graft and Graft Practices, among others.’
This is the second joint referral DPWH and ICI submitted before the Ombudsman. Their first joint referral involves Co and former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, recommending the filing of plunder, graft, and direct bribery charges against them. /cb