House panels probe alleged ghost flood control projects

A House tri-committee, composed of the public accounts, good government and accountability, and public works panels, is investigating alleged anomalous, substandard, or ghost flood control projects under the Marcos administration.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co will be invited to the panel's inquiry should his name crop up in relation to the investigation, according to House infrastructure committee chair and panel lead Rep. Terry Ridon.

Ridon stated that if Co or any other House member is linked to an anomalous contract, transaction, or project, they would be invited to respond, and the matter would then be sent to an independent commission.

Previously, Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco claimed Co, as former appropriations chairman, inserted billions into the 2025 budget for flood control projects.

However, Ridon maintained that any probe into alleged anomalous budget insertions in the 2025 national budget must be done by another body, not the tri-committee.

Before becoming a congressman, Co founded Sunwest Inc., which is now one of the Top 15 flood control project contractors in the country with 79 projects worth P10 billion.