Marcos orders evidence handover as ICI pushes plunder charges vs Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines, November 22 ------ The Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommended, 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 three-month 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.

Source: philstar.com