By Brian Campued
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) called on resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy Co to come home and face the charges and allegations against him regarding anomalous flood control projects.
This as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the DPWH on Wednesday recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery charges against the so-called “congtractors”, or members of the House of Representatives with alleged connections to or interest in construction companies.
Apart from Co, who reportedly owns FS Co. Builders and Supply, other lawmakers charged were Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS) party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola; Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr.; Pusong Pinoy party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay; Bulacan 2nd District Rep. Augustina Pancho; Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph Lara; Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Rivera; and Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Matugas.
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Dizon said that their case referral was supported by documents obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which established the lawmakers’ links with construction firms.
The Sandiganbayan earlier issued warrants of arrest against Co and several others linked to an alleged anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro—where the former lawmaker’s firm, Sunwest Corp., served as contractor.
Co has been releasing videos on Facebook implicating President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and other government officials in alleged budget insertions and kickbacks from infrastructure projects.
“Lahat, kahit sino puwedeng mag-Facebook live. Ang test diyan, uuwi ba siya (Zaldy Co) o hindi? Kung uuwi siya, then sabi nga ni Pangulo, pwede tayong magkaharap-harap. Come home, face the music,” Dizon said in a press conference.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla also echoed the challenge of Marcos Jr. to Co to return to the country instead of making accusatory videos.
Meanwhile, Remulla said the evidence provided by the DPWH and ICI would help strengthen and accelerate the progress of the case against the “congtractors”.
Remulla also stressed that some 10% of House solons may be linked to the flood control corruption scam.
“Kakausapin ko si Speaker (Faustino “Bojie” Dy III) tungkol dito, kasi nga I don’t want to—madi-disrupt talaga ang Congress dito,” the Ombudsman said.
“These things will hurt a lot, maraming masasaktan dito kasi… our law is full of statutes that will make people accountable and pay the price,” he added. (with report from Isaiah Mirafuentes / PTV News)
-jpv
