ICI, DPWH refer plunder raps vs 8 lawmakers to Ombudsman in Massive Infrastructure probe

MANILA (November 27) — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has formally recommended plunder, graft, and multiple criminal charges against eight current and former lawmakers allegedly linked to billions worth of questionable infrastructure contracts from 2016 to 2024.

The joint referral was submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday, marking one of the most sweeping corruption cases to reach the anti-graft body in recent years — and signaling what could be a far larger dragnet into congressional influence over public works spending.

Lawmakers Flagged Over Contractor Links

According to ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., the recommendation involves 1,300 infrastructure projects awarded to firms reportedly connected, owned, or financially tied to the lawmakers — a direct violation of constitutional and procurement rules designed to prevent politicians from profiting from government contracts.

ICI identified the following lawmakers and their alleged contractor links:

Former Rep. Zaldy Co — FS Co. Builders Supply
Rep. Edwin Gardiola — Newington Builders Inc., Lourel Development Corp., S-Ang General Construction & Trading Inc.
Rep. James Ang Jr. — IBC International Builders Corp., Allencon Development Corp.
Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay — JVN Construction and Trading
Rep. Augustina Pancho — C.M. Pancho Construction Inc.
Rep. Joseph Lara — JLL Pulsar Construction Corp.
Rep. Francisco Matugas — Boometrix Development Corp.
Rep. Noel Rivera — Tarlac 3-G Construction & Development Corp.

Reyes stressed that members of Congress are explicitly barred from having any direct or indirect financial interest in government contracts under Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution.

“These congressmen should not be engaging in private business activities that conflict with their official duties,” he said. “They must not sway procurement processes or benefit from government contracts.”

Plunder, Graft, Bribery Among Recommended Charges

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the recommended charges include violations of:

Republic Act 7080 (Plunder Law)
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
Bribery provisions under the Revised Penal Code
Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials
Government Procurement Reform Act
Constitutional prohibition on financial interest in government contracts

The breadth of charges suggests what investigators describe as systemic manipulation of infrastructure procurement, particularly in flood control and local public works projects — sectors long flagged for being vulnerable to congressional “influence peddling.”

Ombudsman Launches Fact-Finding

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the referral has been accepted for evaluation.

“This will undergo fact-finding, followed by preliminary investigation,” Remulla said.

Co, now abroad, is the subject of an Interpol Blue Notice.

Rise of a Bigger Scandal?

The ICI-DPWH recommendation points to a potentially far-reaching corruption network involving lawmakers allegedly steering public funds toward companies they are connected to — a long-standing allegation in infrastructure spending but rarely brought forward with this level of documentation.

Investigators say the 1,300 flagged projects could represent only a fraction of a broader pattern that may emerge as the probe deepens.

For watchdog groups, the case underscores a familiar but persistent problem: the political capture of public works, where lawmakers allegedly use their influence to corner contracts, undermine procurement, and turn local infrastructure into a personal revenue stream.

What the Ombudsman does in the coming weeks could determine whether this becomes a landmark accountability case — or just another episode in the country’s long-running war against political corruption.

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ICI, DPWH refer plunder raps vs 8 lawmakers to Ombudsman in Massive Infrastructure probe

The joint referral was submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday, marking one of the most sweeping corruption cases to reach the anti-graft body in recent years — and signaling what could be a far larger dragnet into congressional influence over public works spending.

Lawmakers Flagged Over Contractor Links

ICI identified the following lawmakers and their alleged contractor links:

Reyes stressed that members of Congress are explicitly barred from having any direct or indirect financial interest in government contracts under Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution.

“These congressmen should not be engaging in private business activities that conflict with their official duties,” he said. “They must not sway procurement processes or benefit from government contracts.”

Plunder, Graft, Bribery Among Recommended Charges

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the recommended charges include violations of:

The breadth of charges suggests what investigators describe as systemic manipulation of infrastructure procurement, particularly in flood control and local public works projects — sectors long flagged for being vulnerable to congressional “influence peddling.”

Ombudsman Launches Fact-Finding

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the referral has been accepted for evaluation.

“This will undergo fact-finding, followed by preliminary investigation,” Remulla said.

Co, now abroad, is the subject of an Interpol Blue Notice.

Rise of a Bigger Scandal?

The ICI-DPWH recommendation points to a potentially far-reaching corruption network involving lawmakers allegedly steering public funds toward companies they are connected to — a long-standing allegation in infrastructure spending but rarely brought forward with this level of documentation.

Investigators say the 1,300 flagged projects could represent only a fraction of a broader pattern that may emerge as the probe deepens.

For watchdog groups, the case underscores a familiar but persistent problem: the political capture of public works, where lawmakers allegedly use their influence to corner contracts, undermine procurement, and turn local infrastructure into a personal revenue stream.

What the Ombudsman does in the coming weeks could determine whether this becomes a landmark accountability case — or just another episode in the country’s long-running war against political corruption.

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Free limited access

Member full access

Exclusive Content

ICI, DPWH refer plunder raps vs 8 lawmakers to Ombudsman in Massive Infrastructure probe

The joint referral was submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday, marking one of the most sweeping corruption cases to reach the anti-graft body in recent years — and signaling what could be a far larger dragnet into congressional influence over public works spending.

Lawmakers Flagged Over Contractor Links

ICI identified the following lawmakers and their alleged contractor links:

Reyes stressed that members of Congress are explicitly barred from having any direct or indirect financial interest in government contracts under Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution.

“These congressmen should not be engaging in private business activities that conflict with their official duties,” he said. “They must not sway procurement processes or benefit from government contracts.”

Plunder, Graft, Bribery Among Recommended Charges

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the recommended charges include violations of:

The breadth of charges suggests what investigators describe as systemic manipulation of infrastructure procurement, particularly in flood control and local public works projects — sectors long flagged for being vulnerable to congressional “influence peddling.”

Ombudsman Launches Fact-Finding

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the referral has been accepted for evaluation.

“This will undergo fact-finding, followed by preliminary investigation,” Remulla said.

The move comes on the heels of the Ombudsman’s first set of complaints filed last November 18 related to alleged ghost flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro, which led to arrests of several co-accused linked to former Rep. Zaldy Co.

Co, now abroad, is the subject of an Interpol Blue Notice.

Rise of a Bigger Scandal?

The ICI-DPWH recommendation points to a potentially far-reaching corruption network involving lawmakers allegedly steering public funds toward companies they are connected to — a long-standing allegation in infrastructure spending but rarely brought forward with this level of documentation.

Investigators say the 1,300 flagged projects could represent only a fraction of a broader pattern that may emerge as the probe deepens.

For watchdog groups, the case underscores a familiar but persistent problem: the political capture of public works, where lawmakers allegedly use their influence to corner contracts, undermine procurement, and turn local infrastructure into a personal revenue stream.

What the Ombudsman does in the coming weeks could determine whether this becomes a landmark accountability case — or just another episode in the country’s long-running war against political corruption.

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