The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has implicated several incumbent and former lawmakers, along with top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Commission on Audit (CoA), in the alleged multibillion-peso bribery and kickback scheme involving government-funded flood control projects.

In an interim report submitted to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, the ICI urged a further investigation and the possible prosecution of Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, ex-Caloocan 2nd District Representative Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, and CoA Commissioner Mario Lipana.

The ICI, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr., based its findings on the sworn statements of DPWH engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.

The engineers, who had worked on flood control projects in Bulacan and other regions, provided detailed accounts of how lawmakers allegedly demanded “commissions” ranging from 10 to 30 percent of the total project budgets.

According to the testimonies, these payoffs were made in exchange for budget insertions, contractor endorsements, and approvals of project allocations.

Contractors allegedly made advance payments to ensure that they would be awarded projects under the DPWH’s flood control program, which grew in number in recent years amid increasing climate-related disasters.

Cash deliveries, coded transactions

Engineer Alcantara testified that in 2022, Senator Villanueva allegedly received P150 million through an aide identified only as “Peng,” delivered to a residence in Bocaue, Bulacan, tied to P600 million worth of flood control projects in the province.

Hernandez and Mendoza linked P355 million in flood control allocations in 2024 and 2025 to Estrada’s office, supposedly facilitated by DPWH intermediaries and middlemen close to former Undersecretary Bernardo who allegedly oversaw the collection and distribution of funds.

The same witnesses described multiple instances of cash deliveries made to Zaldy Co’s staff in his Taguig and Pasig homes in suitcases filled with cash in the millions of pesos. Between 2022 and 2025, Co reportedly endorsed more than P35 billion worth of flood control projects and allegedly received roughly 25 percent of the total in kickbacks.

As for Audit Commissioner Lipana, the report said he benefited from projects that specifically protected his personal properties in Bulacan.

Former DPWH Undersecretary and ex-lawmaker Mitzi Cajayon-Uy was likewise accused of securing P411 million worth of projects in exchange for a 10 percent “SOP” (standard operating procedure) paid in cash at a Quezon City restaurant.

The ICI said the sums far exceeded the P50-million threshold for plunder under Republic Act 7080 and could constitute direct and indirect bribery and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Lawmakers hit back

Senators Villanueva and Estrada swiftly denied any wrongdoing.

Villanueva said his lawyers will wait for the official referral of the ICI report to the Ombudsman before issuing a formal reply but insisted he has always opposed irregular flood control projects.

“Records of the Senate will show that I have been against flood control projects from the very beginning,” he said, recalling that he was among those who questioned unimplemented allocations in past budget hearings.

“Engineer Alcantara himself consistently testified that I know nothing about the flood control projects,” Villanueva added. “All these, at the proper time, will prove my innocence.”

Estrada, for his part, called the accusations “hearsay” and said he never received any funds for flood control projects. “I am ready to defend myself and go through any legal process to prove that I am telling the truth,” he said in Filipino. “I will clear my name, and I have full confidence that the truth will prevail.”

Senate’s cautious stance

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III declined to weigh in on the matter, saying he had yet to read the full report. “I cannot comment without knowing the background of that report,” he told reporters.

However, he emphasized that if cases are filed, the Senate would respect due process.

“We will be prudent and follow the rule of law to avoid putting the institution in the line of fire,” Sotto said. “There are constitutional, legal, and political issues to these investigations. And there will always be as many opinions as there are lawyers.”

Ongoing probe

ICI Chair Andres Reyes Jr. said the testimonies revealed a “systemic manipulation” of flood control budgets during the crafting of the National Expenditure Program and even during the bicameral conference committee meetings.

According to Reyes, several lawmakers allegedly used these insertions to funnel massive public funds to their preferred contractors in exchange for payoffs averaging 20 to 30 percent of the project costs.

He clarified, however, that the ICI’s findings were preliminary and that further evidence could expand or modify the list of those implicated.

At press time, none of the legislators and agencies named had issued formal statements beyond the denials of Villanueva and Estrada. The Ombudsman has yet to announce if it will adopt the ICI’s recommendation and begin criminal proceedings.