Magalong: Romualdez, Co deserve to be jailed for flood control scandal

Baguio City, Philippines - Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said former Speaker and Leyre Rep. Martin Romualdez and former Albay Rep. Zaldy Co “deserve to be jailed” over their alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso flood control fund scandal being investigated by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

“To be very blunt about it, they deserve to be jailed,” Magalong told NewsWatch Plus in an exclusive interview on Thursday, Oct. 23, referring to the two former House leaders accused of benefitting from questionable budget insertions.

“At dapat kung ikukulong sila, dapat hindi sila ikulong sa mga magandang jail. Hindi dapat. They don’t deserve it. They have to go to the city jail,” he said.

[Translation: And if they are jailed, they shouldn’t be placed in comfortable prisons. They have to go to ordinary city jails.]

Magalong alleged that Romualdez and Co played central roles in what he described as a “hierarchy of corruption” within the House of Representatives, involving massive insertions in flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Sa akin na, personal na pananaw ko, nandiyan siguro si Speaker Romualdez, followed by Zaldy Co, at yung mga inner circle nila,” he said.

[Translation: In my view, it’s Speaker Romualdez, followed by Zaldy Co, and their inner circle.]

He accused Co of collecting kickbacks from contractors in exchange for project allocations.

“Gustong-gusto niyang tawagin siyang ‘Boss Zaldy.’ May presyo pa diyan. Presyong kaibigan, 15%. Pero ang normal d’yan, 25% sa kanya,” Magalong said.

[Translation: He liked being called ‘Boss Saldy.’ There was a price — a 15% cut for friends, but normally 25% went to him.]

Magalong also dismissed Romualdez’s credibility, saying the former speaker failed to fulfill the promises he made to him during their past engagements.

“Wala doon sa mga sinabi niya, wala doon sa mga pangakong binanggit niya sa akin na nasunod. So how can I trust him?” he said.

[Translation: None of what he said or promised ever happened. So how can I trust him?]

Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was invited by the ICI to explain his knowledge of the national budget insertions and DPWH projects. He appeared before the commission earlier this week and maintained that he has nothing to hide. His second appearance, initially set for Oct. 22, was postponed due to a medical procedure.

Co, who chaired the House appropriations committee during the 19th Congress, has yet to appear before the commission despite being subpoenaed.

Asked if the ICI could pursue a case against Romualdez given his ties to the President, Magalong said Marcos himself assured that the investigation would spare no one.

“The president himself mentioned na it doesn’t matter if it will go all the way up. Very clear si presidente d’yan. Ako, I felt his sincerity,” Magalong said.

[Translation: The President said it doesn’t matter how high this investigation goes. I truly felt his sincerity.]

The ICI, created by President Marcos to investigate graft in public infrastructure projects, continues its probe into lawmakers and contractors allegedly involved in the misuse of billions of pesos in flood control funds.