DPWH recommends raps vs. ex-Speaker Romualdez, Zaldy Co

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon (Department of Public Works and Highways/facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman its recommendation to investigate the possible violations of the anti-graft and corruption practices laws against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

Secretary Vince Dizon said he, together with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), submitted their recommendation before the Ombudsman, which would decide whether or not to approve their proposal to file charges against the two former public officials.

“We referred documents, sworn testimonies from the Blue Ribbon Committee (hearings), that allowed us to recommend charges against both former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Congressman Zaldy Go, and these are the possible crimes of plunder, violation anti-graft and corrupt practices act and direct bribery,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Pilipinas Conference 2025 held at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City, Friday.

“Based on the evidence we have submitted with the ICI to the Ombudsman, these are the many contracts of Sunwest Corp. and High Tone Construction, two companies with alleged links to former Rep. Co. that if you count them from 2016 to 2025, the contracts are worth more than PHP100 billion,” the DPWH chief noted.

Based on the two-page referral document provided by the DPWH, its recommendation reads as follows:

“Subject to the Honorable Ombudsman’s prerogative to determine the appropriate charges against the erring public officials and private individuals referred to in the allegations and the attached documents, it is respectfully recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman conduct an investigation on Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Elizaldy S. Co, and Members of the Board of Directors of Sunwest, Inc. [formerly Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation] and Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corporation, and any and all other parties, in relation to the following possible criminal offenses: a. Violation of Republic Act No. 7080, or An Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder; b. Violation of Sections 3 (a), (b), (e), and (h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; and Violation of Art. 210 of the Revised Penal Code on Direct Bribery.”

“It is further noted that the findings herein are only preliminary in nature and without prejudice to any additional findings of liability or the possible implication of other persons that may arise in the course of the evaluation and/or investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.”

At the same time, Dizon noted that, “based on the testimonies before the Blue Ribbon (Committee) there are links between Speaker Romualdez and former Rep. Co”.

He said that during Romualdez’s leadership, Co was the head of the House Committee on Appropriations.

“It will go through the process, the Ombudsman will investigate, case build up and the Ombudsman will decide which case to file, but we already have a recommendation in place,” the DPWH chief added.