ICI links senators, ex-solons to flood control kickback

The prosecution of several sitting and former lawmakers, including Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, was recommended by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for allegedly receiving multimillion-peso kickbacks from contractors of government-funded flood control projects.

This was stated in its Amended Interim Report 2025-002 submitted to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, detailing sworn testimonies from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers who described a pattern of bribe-taking that allegedly involved legislators and senior public works officials.

Based on the report, Engineer Henry Alcantara, former Bulacan district engineer, and his associates admitted to facilitating “advances” or “SOPs” — standard operating payments — ranging from 20 percent to 30 percent of project funds to proponents in exchange for securing budget allocations and project approvals.

The ICI identified the following officials for possible criminal liability: Senators Villanueva and Estrada; former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co; former congresswoman and ex-undersecretary Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy; Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana; and former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

Also recommended for prosecution were DPWH engineers Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza for allegedly acting as conduits in the distribution of kickbacks. The report included corroborating affidavits, photos of cash deliveries, and transcripts from Senate Blue Ribbon hearings.

It said the money trail showed how legislators used their power to insert projects into the National Expenditure Program, General Appropriations Act, or unprogrammed funds in exchange for “advances” from contractors.

The report cited P150 million allegedly delivered to an aide of Senator Villanueva in Bocaue, Bulacan; P355 million worth of projects linked to Senator Estrada; and P35 billion in projects attributed to former congressman Co, who allegedly received repeated cash deliveries at Shangri-La Fort and his Valle Verde residence.

The commission said the alleged acts constituted violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Direct and Indirect Bribery under the Revised Penal Code, and the Plunder Law.

The Ombudsman was urged by the ICI to file administrative charges under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for conflict of interest, acceptance of gifts, and failure to properly disclose assets.

Headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr., the ICI was created under Executive Order No. 94, series of 2025, to investigate corruption in infrastructure projects, particularly flood control works under the DPWH. The report emphasized that “billions of pesos of public funds were squandered through a system of payoffs to legislators and officials.”

It said the findings are preliminary and may be supplemented as more evidence is gathered.