October 29, 2025 | 12:15pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has recommended the filing of criminal charges against several former and incumbent government officials — including Sens. Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada — over alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes announced the commission’s new set of recommended charges at a press conference on Wednesday, October 29. This is the ICI’s second recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman since it began its investigation into the flood control scandal on September 19.
Also named in the recommended charges are former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana, former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, and former Caloocan Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy.
The ICI chairperson said the officials involved may be “possibly” held liable for direct or indirect bribery, corruption of public officials, and plunder under existing anti-graft laws.
Reyes said at the press conference on Wednesday that witness testimonies have described a scheme that begins with a lawmaker — either a senator or a member of the House of Representatives — informing then-DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara of an available budget for infrastructure projects.
The witnesses, Reyes said, testified that the arrangements typically involves flood control works because kickbacks here range from 25% to 30%, higher than in other public works contracts.
ICI’s first recommendation, submitted on September 29, asked the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue charges against Co and 13 DPWH officials over a P289.5-million ghost project in Oriental Mindoro.