DPWH and ICI jointly recommend multiple charges vs Romualdez, Co

The Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure have submitted a joint report to the Office the Ombudsman recommending several charges against former House Speaker and current Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co for their alleged involvement in the flood control mess. 

On Nov. 21, per a report by The Philippine STAR, the DPWH and ICI report asked the Ombudsman to charge Romualdez and Co with plunder, graft, and direct bribery.

According to DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon, the referral report involves around P100 billion tied to flood control and other infrastructure contracts awarded to Sunwest Inc. and Hi Tone Construction.

Per Dizon, the possible charges may include 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 contracts in question were granted between 2016 and 2025. Co is the founder of Sunwest Inc. He co-founded Hi Tone with his brother Christopher. 

Sunwest Inc. is in the list of the top 15 allegedly anomalous contractors previously released by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. 

Co has earlier said that he had divested from both firms. 

Last week, Co released three videos on social media accusing numerous politicians of being involved in the P100 billion insertions into the 2025 national budget. Among those he implicated was Romualdez. 

The Office of the Ombudsman has since called on Co to come back to the Philippines to face the charges lodged against him. 

In September, Marcos said Romualdez, his first cousin, would not be spared in the flood control investigation.

Soon after the recommendations were made public, Marcos gave a video message coursed through the Presidential Communications Office. 

"Nais kong ipalaman sa ating mga kababayan na ang ICI at ang DPWH ay lahat ng nakuha nila na impormasyon ay irerefer, ibibigay na sa Ombudsman para imbestigahan ng Ombudsman," Marcos said on Friday.

"Malakas naman ang loob natin na yung Ombudsman, ang ginagawa lamang ay sumusunod sa ebidensya. At kung saan tayo dinadala ng ebidensya, doon pupunta ang ating imbestigasyon," the President added.