Metro Manila, Philippines – At least 1,200 people may be held liable in anomalous flood control projects as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) zeroes in on 80 questionable deals, a commissioner said on Friday, Nov. 21.
ICI commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson issued the estimates after submitting the body’s joint referral with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to charge former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former House appropriations chairman Zaldy Co with plunder, graft, and bribery charges.
In a press briefing, Singson said the commission is expecting more documents from the police and military deployed on the ground to focus on ghost projects or those that were paid and deemed completed but found to be non-existent.
“Isipin niyo na lang, one ghost project will involve easily 15 individuals to be accused so kung 421 iyan tapos nalimit namin sa otsenta, because the 80 refers to the projects undertaken by the notorious contractors, isipin niyo na lang 80 times 15, do your math,” said Singson.
[Translation: Just think about it — one ghost project will easily involve 15 individuals who can be accused. So if there were originally 421 and it was narrowed down to 80 — because the 80 refers to the projects handled by the notorious contractors — then just think: 80 times 15. You do the math.]
The ICI earlier said it will focus on 421 “ghost” projects spanning from 2016 or the start of the Duterte administration up to 2025.
Singson said the commission has also asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue to look into the personalities involved, including the stockholders of the contractors involved in anomalous transactions.
The ICI has so far made six case referrals to the Ombudsman since it was formed in September.
One of its recommendations was the basis of the graft and non-bailable malversation case against Co over a substandard road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, contracted by Sunwest Inc., where the resigned lawmaker was said to be a beneficial owner.
