MANILA – Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson said Friday that roughly 1,200 people could be held criminally liable in connection with irregularities uncovered in government flood control projects.
Singson, who previously headed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), explained that investigators are looking at about 80 questionable projects. He said each of these projects could involve around 15 accountable individuals.
“One ghost project will involve 15 [individuals to be charged]. We limited it to 80 projects done by notorious [top] contractors named by the President [Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr],” Singson said.
“Eighty, multiply it by 15, do your math. I’m sorry to the Ombudsman, malulunod ka ng papeles at referrals,” he added.
Singson issued the remarks during a briefing where he also disclosed that 64 members of the police and military have been assigned to collect intelligence from the field on problematic flood control projects identified by Malacañang.
“We’re expecting additional documents coming from the joint AFP-PNP ground troops who are on the ground. Next week, dadagsa po ‘yan,” he said.
The updates come as the Office of the Ombudsman continues to take action on cases tied to the alleged kickback scheme.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier filed malversation and graft charges against former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, several ex-DPWH personnel, and Sunwest Construction directors over a ₱289-million dike project in Oriental Mindoro. These were the first criminal complaints filed in relation to the controversy.
Co’s camp, meanwhile, has insisted that the Ombudsman had “prejudged him since Day 1.”
On the same day, the ICI and DPWH also endorsed to the Ombudsman the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery complaints against Co — who has since resigned — and Leyte Representative and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the joint recommendation covers about ₱100 billion in public works contracts awarded to Co-linked contractors Sunwest Corporation and Hi Tone Construction between 2016 and 2025./PN
