One of the largest contractors for government projects, who is also a legislator, has a strong Palace backer, according to a young Turk in the House of Representatives. 

 Rep. Edwin Gardiola, Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS) partylist representative since 2022, faces serious allegations of corruption related to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects, supposedly cornering contracts much larger than those of the contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya.        

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto reportedly has personal and provincial ties to Gardiola. Both are from Batangas where the Recto family holds political influence. Recto’s wife, celebrity Vilma Santos, is the governor and their son, Ryan Christian Recto, is the congressman of the 6th district.

In May 2024, Recto, along with then House Speaker Martin Romualdez, served as a godfather at the lavish wedding of one of Gardiola’s children in Florence, Italy, where Gardiola reportedly covered the expenses of the guests.

Gardiola-linked firms have reportedly secured public works contracts in Batangas, including in areas previously or currently represented by the Recto family.

The allegations against Gardiola are under investigation by the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

The allegations include inserting billions of pesos in infrastructure allocations into the national budget, then allegedly reselling or awarding the projects to his family-linked construction firms or associates through rigged biddings and kickback schemes. 

Reports describe him as a prominent “congtractor” (congressman-contractor), with his companies reportedly securing some P22 billion in flood control project contracts. 

Gardiola has denied any involvement in the public works corruption.