Ombudsman eyes graft, plunder, bribery cases
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and seven incumbent congressmen over their alleged involvement in government projects.
The lawmakers, collectively identified by ICI chairman Andres Reyes as “cong-tractors,” either own construction firms or whose family members obtained government contracts from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“These so-called ‘cong-tractors’ are those members of Congress or their partners or family members, who own construction firms that received projects or obtained contracts from the DPWH. The subject of this joint referral is the 1,300 infrastructure projects awarded from 2016 to 2024 to contractors that are related to House of Representatives members,” Reyes said.
Aside from Co, who was linked to the construction firm FS Co. Builders Supply, among those listed in the referral are as follows:
1. Construction Workers Solidarity party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola for Newington Builders, Inc., Lourel Development Corp., and S-Ang General Construction and Trading, Inc.;
2. Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr. for IBC International Builders Corp. and Allencon Development Corp.;
3. Pusong Pinoy party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay for JVN Construction and Trading;
4. Bulacan 2nd District Rep. Augustina Pancho for CM Pancho Construction, Inc.;
5. Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph Lara for JLL Pulsar Construction Corp.;
6. Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Matugas for Boometrix Development Corp.; and
7. Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Rivera for Tarlac 3-G Construction and Development Corp.
In a video message, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., without identifying the lawmakers, said the eight congressmen were recommended to be charged before the Ombudsman with plunder, graft, bribery and conflict of interest charges based on evidence gathered by the ICI and the DPWH.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said they submitted various contracts owned by Co and the seven other incumbent lawmakers.
“We have presented evidence that they own construction companies that have various contracts with the DPWH… We have also recommended possible cases against these eight individuals,” Dizon said.
He said the records they submitted also include documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that established the beneficial interest of the lawmakers in the construction companies they are linked to.
For his part, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the referral will be evaluated before his office proceeds with the preliminary investigation.
“When we go through the documents, when we see them to be complete, we can actually go for PI (preliminary investigation) already. Nevertheless, we are ready to do the fact-finding and we would like to say that we have started on some of these names before,” Remulla said.
He said he believes there is “conflict of interest” that is very evident in at least 12 to 15 individuals involved in anomalous flood control projects.
In its referral, the ICI said these lawmakers should not be engaging in private business activities in conflict with their official duties; should not influence bids and awards; must not sway procurement processes; and should not participate in or benefit from government contracts.
“This practice should have ended decades ago. The longer we allow it to exist, the more it corrodes public trust. Let us tear down this abusive system, one by one, with every filing,” the ICI said.
The ICI said more names will be announced in the coming days.
