DPWH, ICI Push Plunder Charges Against President Marcos’ Cousin Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co

Two Philippine government bodies the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) have recommended filing plunder charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former lawmaker Zaldy Co over alleged irregularities in large-scale flood control projects.

In the Philippines, plunder is a major criminal offense involving the accumulation of at least ₱50 million (approx. USD 850,000) in illegal wealth through corruption.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced that Romualdez and Co may face several possible charges, including plunder, anti-graft violations, or indirect bribery, depending on the findings of the Office of the Ombudsman, the country’s independent anti-corruption prosecutor.

Marcos said all documents, testimonies, and findings gathered by the DPWH and ICI will be formally turned over to the Ombudsman for evaluation.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, the President reiterated his commitment to report updates on questionable flood control projects:

“As I’ve said before, I will continue reporting to the public about new information and developments regarding these problematic flood control projects.”

He added that investigators will submit all materials related to Romualdez and Co:

“The ICI and the DPWH will refer all the information they have gathered to the Ombudsman for investigation. This concerns the findings involving former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Representative Zaldy Co.”

Marcos said possible charges will depend entirely on the strength of the evidence:

“Once all the evidence is reviewed, cases such as plunder, anti-graft, or indirect bribery may be filed.”

He emphasized that the Ombudsman will act solely based on facts, and that the investigation will follow the evidence wherever it leads.

The recommendations represent the most serious accusations yet to confront Romualdez, a powerful political figure, while Co is already facing multiple graft-related cases linked to public works contracts.