ICI Recommends Plunder, Graft Charges vs. Senators Villanueva, Estrada, Ex-Lawmakers Zaldy Co, Mitch Cajayon-Uy, DPWH and COA Officials in Flood Control Scandal

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), chaired by Andres Reyes Jr., together with a team of volunteer lawyers, has submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman its recommendation to file criminal and administrative charges against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, former Caloocan 2nd District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana over their alleged involvement in anomalous and ghost flood-control projects.

Massive Kickback Scheme

Former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and Senators Villanueva and Estrada were implicated in a massive flood-control fund scandal involving alleged kickbacks from projects worth billions of pesos under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).Testimonies from DPWH engineers Alcantara and Hernandez, presented before the ICI, described an elaborate scheme in which lawmakers purportedly received 20 to 25 percent commissions from infrastructure projects funded between 2022 and 2025.

Zaldy Co’s ₱35-B Flood-Control Network

Engineer Alcantara testified that Co began coordinating with DPWH officials in 2021 after a meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bonifacio Global City, where he discussed plans to “bring funds” to his district. Within a year, Co allegedly became the proponent of 426 flood-control projects worth ₱35.024 billion under the Bulacan First District Engineering Office (B1-DEO).Witnesses said Co collected kickbacks through the National Expenditure Program (NEP), Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam), and Unprogrammed Allocations (UA), taking between 10 and 25 percent of project values.Cash deliveries reportedly occurred in the Shangri-La parking lot and at Co’s Valle Verde 6 residence in Pasig City. Engr. Hernandez corroborated the claim, adding that Co and Alcantara agreed on a 25 percent “SOP” per project and that Co received a ₱20 million “Christmas gift,” delivered by Paul Duya to his chief of staff, Paul Estrada.

Senator Villanueva’s ₱150-M Alleged Payoff

Senator Villanueva was accused of receiving ₱150 million in kickbacks from ₱600 million worth of flood-control projects under the 2023 Unprogrammed Allocations.After his initial ₱1.5-billion request for a multipurpose building was reduced, DPWH officials allegedly compensated him with project allocations. Alcantara claimed he personally delivered the cash to Villanueva’s rest house in Barangay Igulot, Bocaue, Bulacan, leaving it with an aide known as “Peng.”Hernandez stated that Alcantara and Villanueva exchanged messages via apps with disappearing chats, which he documented through screenshots showing Villanueva demanding DPWH funds.

Senator Estrada’s ₱355-M Allocation

In 2024, Senator Estrada allegedly asked DPWH officials to channel ₱355 million to flood-control projects following a Senate budget hearing. Alcantara testified that he prepared a list of projects “within 10 to 15 minutes” at the instruction of then-Usec. Bernardo, who said Estrada had an “excess allocation.”As with other transactions, 25 percent of the project value was reportedly earmarked for the senator. Hernandez said Estrada’s representatives — Ms. Mina and Beng Ramos — handled coordination. Mina, linked to WJ Construction, denied involvement, but records later showed the company received a ₱75-million flood-control contract.

ICI Recommendations and Possible Charges

ICI Chairperson Reyes said the findings establish prima facie evidence for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019).

“The evidence points to a coordinated pattern of fund diversion and ghost projects. The people’s money, intended for disaster mitigation and flood prevention, was instead allegedly pocketed by those in power,” Reyes stated.

He added that the ICI seeks to restore integrity and accountability in infrastructure spending and ensure that funds for public works truly serve their purpose.

If proven, the alleged “flood-for-cash” network could become one of the largest corruption scandals in Philippine public-works history, involving over ₱35 billion in questionable allocations and kickbacks.The Office of the Ombudsman is expected to review the ICI report and decide whether to file formal cases against the implicated lawmakers and officials.