The joint referral to the Ombudsman by Vince Dizon’s Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure was a turning point—paving the road to Martin Romualdez’s arrest for plunder.
On Nov. 21, 2025, Dizon and ICI officials turned over boxes of documents and evidence to the Ombudsman, recommending plunder, graft, and bribery charges against Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
The referral pushed the scandal beyond hearings and accusations, placing the government’s findings before the Ombudsman and subjecting Romualdez to a formal criminal probe by the country’s top anti‑graft agency.
The report covered roughly ₱100 billion in contracts awarded from 2016 to 2025 to Sunwest Inc. and Hi‑Tone Construction, firms linked to Co. Investigators examined costs, implementation, and allegations that funds were siphoned off through kickbacks and unlawful deals.
Though the contracts were tied to Co’s companies, the referral specifically named Romualdez—putting the former Speaker under direct scrutiny for his role in identifying, funding, and implementing flood‑control projects.
Dizon made clear the recommendation was not made lightly:
“Hindi namin sasabihing recommended kung wala kaming nakikitang basehan.”
Investigators also weighed sworn testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which traced the alleged flow of funds, contractor involvement, and lawmakers’ roles—including Romualdez—in releasing flood‑control money.
Evidence submitted included contracts, project records, corporate documents, and materials exposing ties between contractors, officials, and projects under investigation. Dizon said the Ombudsman would now independently evaluate the evidence:
“Pero sa aming palagay, merong basehan.”
President Bongbong Marcos likewise said the Ombudsman would decide independently whether charges should be pursued.
Nearly 10 months later, on Sept. 7, 2026, the probe reached a decisive stage as the Ombudsman filed a ₱7.4‑billion plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Romualdez, Co, and two others over their alleged kickback scheme. Romualdez was arrested the same day.
The filing transformed the November 2025 referral into a full criminal case, accusing Romualdez and his allies of amassing billions in commissions, kickbacks, and illicit benefits from government projects. Ombudsman Boying Remulla vowed more cases are coming—including additional plunder charges.
It’s a victory for the Filipino people, long forced to endure nature’s wrath while flood-control projects meant to shield them were either nonexistent or substandard—failures that left 9.4 million affected and claimed 39 lives in the latest heavy rains.
It comes as PGMN’s heavy-hitting barrage of corruption exposés against Romualdez entered its 11th straight week—racking up 230 million views across 2,042 posts—cementing itself as the most viral anti-corruption campaign ever mounted against a single figure in Philippine social media history. Even as Romualdez scrambled to fight back, filing more than 80 lawsuits against PGMN, the nonstop stream of content exposing him only grew louder and more relentless.
Now all eyes are locked on the Sandiganbayan. The burning question: will they stand firm-or cave to Romualdez’s corruption the way witnesses did?
