The counsel for the United People Against Corruption (UPAC) on Monday clarified that the P1-billion civil case it filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Representative Zaldy Co, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas and several other respondents over alleged anomalous flood control projects was not dismissed on the merits.

Atty. Ariel Inton, UPAC’s lawyer, said Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 81 did not dismiss the case due to lack of evidence of corruption.

“The dismissal by Presiding Judge Madonna Echiverri was based purely on a technical jurisdictional hurdle. The court demanded an exorbitant docket and filing fee of more than P20 million — calculated based on the P1-billion valuation of the suit — despite the fact that the petitioners are indigent litigants,” Inton told Daily Tribune.

Earlier reports said Echiverri issued the dismissal order citing lack of jurisdiction on 15 April, but this was made public only on 29 June.

The court said it could not act on the complaint after the plaintiffs failed to pay the filing fee despite a notice given as far back as 20 February.

“We have officially elevated this fight to the Court of Appeals to challenge this barrier to justice. The heavy evidence of corruption against Romualdez, Co and Vargas has yet to be tried, and the battle for accountability is far from finished,” Inton said.

He said the CA has required the petitioners to submit additional documents, including their addresses, for them to be recognized as indigent litigants.

“Meaning, the Court of Appeals is entertaining our demands. Why P1 billion? Even if we reduce the amount allegedly stolen just to lower the filing fee, the poor plaintiffs still cannot afford it. Trillions are missing. Didn’t President PBBM say those behind ghost flood projects should be held accountable?” Inton said.

The complaint for “abuse of rights and unjust enrichment” was filed in December 2025 against Romualdez, Co, Vargas, several unnamed DPWH officials and private contractors.

Citing PCIJ data, UPAC said the flood control allocations for Vargas’s district reached P944.6 million annually, or about P2.86 billion from 2023 to 2025.

Vargas’ district covers Novaliches-Fairview and major roads such as Commonwealth Avenue and Quirino Highway in Quezon City.

The complainants blamed the alleged failed projects for the persistent flooding in the area.

“If there is funding, there should be a project. If there is a project, there should be clear results. And if there are no results, someone must be held accountable,” UPAC said in a December 2025 statement.

Meanwhile, Vargas welcomed the court’s ruling, calling the allegations fabricated and saying the case lacked a basis from the start. He also questioned why the complainants did not pay the filing fee to pursue the case.

UPAC, however, belied Vargas’s claim, reiterating that the dismissal was procedural and not based on the merits.

“Contrary to his claim, the RTC did not dismiss the case due to lack of evidence. It was a technical jurisdictional issue,” UPAC said.

“By dismissing the case over unpaid filing fees rather than the merits, the court has penalized the poor for standing up against corruption,” it added.

UPAC said it has elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals, insisting the fight for accountability continues.