House panel willing to summon Elizaldy Co, other solons in flood control probe

The House tri-committee, poised to launch a high-stakes probe into the alleged anomalies and corruption in the multi-billion-peso flood control projects, confirmed Thursday that lawmakers accused of involvement in the fraudulent scheme will be summoned.

This includes, among others, Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co — former chairperson of the powerful House committee on appropriations — who co-funded one of the construction firms that has bagged high-value contracts with the government, as recently exposed by no less than President Marcos Jr.

“Yes, if he’s named is part of anomalous deals […] relating to infrastructure and flood control projects,” said Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon in response to a query whether to invite Co to the congressional investigation.

“They will be asked to sit before the tri-committee and explain themselves,” he added, referring to unnamed legislators being linked in the scandal. 

The House tri-committee — comprising Ridon-led public accounts, public works, and good government and public accountability — will be formed to look into reports that the government’s flood control projects, with a price tag of a whopping P545.64 billion, are marred by irregularities, including corruption, the use of substandard materials, as well as ghosts and incomplete projects. 

The investigation follows Marcos’ pronouncement in his fourth State of the Nation Address in late July to crack down on corruption in the flood control projects and go after erring contractors and crooks in Congress, found to be in cahoots with the construction firms. 

Earlier this week, the Chief Executive revealed that of the 2,400 contractors, only 15 firms bagged P100 billion for flood control projects since he assumed office in June 2022 up to May this year. This accounts for 20 percent of the entire P545 billion. 

One of the construction firms is the Albay-based Sunwest Inc., formerly Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation, established in 1997 and co-founded by Co. 

A review of the list of flood control projects available on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website shows that Sunwest had 76 projects from 7 July 2022 to 1 May 2025, amounting to billions of pesos.

Romblon accounted for the lion’s share at 18, while Leyte and Camarines Sur had 11 and 10, respectively. The firm also had projects in Oriental Mindoro (9), Occidental Mindoro (7), Surigao del Sur (7), Albay (5), Marinduque (3), Catanduanes (2), Antique (2), Davao del Sur (1), and Guimaras (1).

Meanwhile, Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp., a firm co-founded by Co’s brother, Christopher Co, also a former Ako Bicol solon, had 65 projects nationwide. Christopher Co also co-founded Sunwest, but also previously claimed that he divested when he became a lawmaker.

Ridon argued that it’s still premature to point fingers at lawmakers being implicated in the scheme due to a lack of supporting evidence, and that the investigation should not "witch hunt.”

“We've already seen this in the PDAF scam, when there's a whistleblower who goes to Congress [or] executive blows the whistle. I believe in the end we'll find out who's really involved in this,” the solon averred. 

In an interview last week, Ridon assured that the committee will act accordingly if allegations of irregularities arise during the ongoing briefing.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, known for his crusade for anti-corruption, claimed that 67 House members in the previous Congress had complete control over the project funds because either they or their relatives were the contractors for the government’s flood mitigation program.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong made a similar accusation, alleging that lawmakers were receiving 30 to 40 percent kickbacks from the flood control and infrastructure projects. Magalong presented to lead the impending probe into the flood control fiasco and expressed willngess to seat before Congress if it launch a parallel investigation.

Ridon’s committee had already conducted two briefings with the DPWH this month regarding the status of flood control projects in line with Marcos’ marching order of a meticulous review of the multi-billion-peso initiatives. 

The President’s directive was prompted by the recent widespread flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, despite him boasting during last year’s SONA that 5,500 flood control projects had been completed and there are more under construction.

Critics, however, said Congress and the DPWH must keep their hands off the probe, given that they stand accused of being deeply involved in the very anomalies under scrutiny.

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, the President’s son, agreed to such calls, suggesting the Congress body cannot investigate itself.

The DPWH has already received trillions of pesos for flood control projects over the years but still failed to resolve the flooding crisis, fueling speculations of massive corruption within the controversy-plagued agency. 

Of this year’s budget, the DPWH received the second biggest chunk at P1.007 trillion, next to the education sector with P1.055 trillion. 

The DPWH was supposed to obtain the biggest chunk of this year’s budget if Marcos had not vetoed P16.7 billion worth of flood control projects in the Congress-approved General Appropriations Bill. This was only part of the overall P194 billion worth of line items vetoed by Marcos, deemed inconsistent with his administration's priority programs.

The vetoed flood control projects are those of Region 3 (P7 billion), Region 2 (P3.2 billion), Region 5 (P2,73 billion), Metro Manila (P1.75 billion and Region 1 (P1.1 billion). 

The highly criticized 2025 GAA was originally set at P6.352 trillion, but was trimmed down to P6.326 trillion.

Marcos had already issued a stern warning to members of Congress that he would return the 2026 GAB should it contain line items that are not aligned with his proposed budget, regardless of whether it results in a reenacted budget.