MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate President Francis Escudero confronted Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday evening over the ongoing flood control scandal during the Senate plenary deliberations on the department’s 2026 budget.
Escudero requested a temporary suspension of Senate rules to personally question Dizon about the issue, a motion approved by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
The former senator asked when DPWH officials became convinced that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Congressman Zaldy Co should face charges.
Dizon explained that the recommendation to file charges against Co stemmed from DPWH inspections in Oriental Mindoro involving Sunwest Corporation.
“For former Congressman Zaldy Co, this was first referred by the ICI and DPWH at the end of September or a few weeks after the ICI was formed. We referred to the Ombudsman a recommendation to file cases on the projects in Oriental Mindoro involving Sunwest Corporation,” Dizon said, adding that this led to the Ombudsman filing the first case before the Sandiganbayan, resulting in arrest warrants against Co, several DPWH officials, and private individuals.
Regarding Romualdez, Dizon said the recommendation was submitted only a few weeks ago, based on years of documents and information from DPWH projects linked to Sunwest Corporation, as well as testimony from Sgt. Orly Guteza during Senate blue ribbon hearings.
When asked if he felt any fear or hesitation in pursuing these cases, given Romualdez’s close ties to the President, Dizon said he felt none. “In all my conversations with the president, he has been consistent in saying that wherever the evidence leads, that is where we will go, regardless of who might be implicated,” he said.
Escudero later commended the administration for not following any diversionary tactics and for holding accountable those implicated. “I know this decision was not easy for President Marcos Jr. upon learning that his cousin might be involved. Still, Mr. President, I want to commend your determination to hold accountable those who must be held accountable,” Escudero said.
The cases filed so far include charges against Co, Romualdez, Alcantara, Bernardo, Hernandez, and others linked to the anomalous flood control projects. Escudero himself is among officials implicated in the scandal.
