The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Friday recommended plunder, graft, and indirect bribery cases against former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co to the Office of the Ombudsman.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and ICI member and former DPWH Secretary Babes Singson personally delivered the joint referral, which compiles evidence and documents related to the alleged anomalies.
“I think you’ve all seen the message of the President this morning where he informed the country that the referral by the DPWH and the ICI was going to be submitted today[…] The referral is a collection of facts. These are the documents that… are to be connected to former Rep. Zaldy Co namely Sunwest Corporation and Hi-Tone Construction,” Dizon said.
He clarified, “Sinusumite po natin ito sa Office of the Ombudsman para kanilang mas malalim na busisiin sa kanilang imbestigasyon.”
Dizon added that sworn testimonies from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings were also included: “Sinama din po namin ang sworn testimonies sa Blue Ribbon hearing sa Senate related to both former [House] Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Congressman Zaldy Co[…]”
The submission followed a video statement by President Bongbong Marcos earlier Friday, reporting the referral and ongoing investigation into the flood control projects linked to Romualdez and Co.