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Former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III has alleged that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Stella Quimbo were the masterminds behind allegedly anomalous flood control projects.
In an interview, Bello directly named the two lawmakers when asked who he believed orchestrated the alleged scheme.
“Who do you think is the mastermind in this scam? Zaldy Co lang ito? Speaker (Romualdez) and iyong si Stella Quimbo. Iyan ang mga mastermind diyan,” Bello said, referring to former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
Bello expressed frustration that investigations and complaints have largely focused on contractors and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), while, in his view, congressional leaders who allegedly designed the corruption scheme have been spared scrutiny.
“Kayo nasa media, palagi niyong kino-cover iyong investigation, filing of complaint, hindi niyo ba napapansin na ang hinahabol lalong-lalo ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) ay ang mga kontratista at ang mga DPWH officers? Bakit hindi hinahabol ang source of the corruption. Congress,” he said.
Bello also claimed that Malacañang played a role in the alleged budget manipulation.
“Kasama iyan,” he said.
Quimbo previously served as vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations and was a member of the bicameral conference committee. She later assumed the post of committee chairperson following the resignation of Rep. Zaldy Co.
She was also part of the so-called “small committee” where alleged insertions in the proposed 2025 national budget were reportedly made.
Based on records cited by Bello, Quimbo had four infrastructure projects in her district. Among these was the allocation of ₱950 million to convert Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC) into a “Smart Campus,” a project that was awarded to Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation, a firm linked to Co.
The allegations come amid ongoing public scrutiny over flood control and infrastructure projects, as well as claims of irregularities in the 2025 national budget process.
