Philippines: Probe body seeks corruption, plunder charges against Villanueva, Estrada, Co, Bernardo, Lipana, Cajayon-Uy

Manila: The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended charging two senators and two former congressmen, among six officials over their alleged involvement in anomalous and "ghost" flood control projects.

The commission has asked the Ombudsman on Wednesday (October 29) to charge the high-profile individuals for their role in the massive kickbacks scandal.

Among the officials the ICI named are:

This marks the ICI’s second referral to the Ombudsman, following its initial probe launched on September 19, 2025, signalling a deepening investigation into public works anomalies.

These persons, the ICI stated, have "possibly committed" the following violations:

The charges are based on testimonies and narrations of witnesses, which showed how the kickbacks scheme started with the project "proponents" (where are members of either the House or Senate).

The ICI was established by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September 2025 under Executive Order No. 94 to investigate infrastructure projects, including flood control, over the past decade.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has endorsed charges against the named officials based on an affidavit from a dismissed engineer, with the Department of Justice reviewing additional evidence, as per the Philippine News Agency.

Former congressman Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co, one of the accused, has been missing since leaving the US on September 13, 2025, with unconfirmed sightings in Singapore, Spain, Dubai, and Portugal.

The ICI may pursue a contempt petition against Co if he ignores the subpoena.

Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana’s potential liability is under scrutiny, with investigators examining his spouse’s role as a contractor in the projects.

The investigation coincides with heightened public concern over flooding in the Philippines, exacerbated by recent typhoons and questionable infrastructure resilience.

Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada face legal pressure, adding to political tension as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continues its oversight.

The case highlights ongoing challenges in the Asian country's anti-corruption efforts, with the ICI acting as Marcos’ investigative arm to address systemic issues in government projects.