ICI, DPWH recommend filing of charges vs 8 ‘congtractors’

MANILA, Philippines – The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and Department of Public Works and Highways have recommended the filing of a new set of criminal and administrative complaints against several “congtractors” or lawmakers linked to government contractors.

“These so-called ‘congtractors’ are those members of Congress or their partners or family members who own construction firms that received project awards or obtained contracts from the DPWH,” ICI chairperson Andres Reyes said in a press briefing on Wednesday, November 26.

Those named in the recommendation filed by the ICI and DPWH with the Office of the Ombudsman include the following individuals, alongside the companies linked to them:

• Former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co – FS Co. Builders Supply
• Construction Workers Solidarity Representative Edwin Gardiola – Newington Builders, Inc., Lourel Development Corporation, and S-Ang General Construction & Trading Inc.
• Uswag Ilonggo Representative James “Jojo” Ang Jr. – IC International Builders Corporation and Allencon Development Corporation
• Pusong Pinoy Representative Jernie Nissay – JVN Construction and Trading
• Bulacan 2nd District Representative Augustina “Tina” Pancho – C.M. Pancho Construction Inc.
• Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph Lara – JLL Pulsar Construction Corporation
• Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Matugas – Boometrix Development Corp.
• Tarlac 3rd District Representative Noel Rivera – 3-G Construction & Development Corporation

“The subject of this joint referral is the 1,300 infrastructure projects awarded from 2016 to 2024 to contractors that are related to House of Representatives members,” Reyes said.

Reyes said that “members of Congress are barred from having a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any government contract, franchise, or special privilege during their term of office.”

The ICI chairman said that “these officials appear to violate the Code of Conduct for Government Officials and the Anti-Graft & Corruption Act.”

Ties that bind: Politicontractors

Rappler’s investigative series has documented the ties of some of these politicians to government contractors.

In March 2025, Rappler released an investigative report showing Co’s ties to the scandal-plagued Sunwest and the billions of pesos in public works contracts it secured during his tenure as House appropriations panel chairman.

Rappler’s investigation also showed that two companies — Newington Builders and S-Ang Construction — owned by Gardiola’s immediate family cornered P16 billion worth of infrastructure projects since 2023.

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Meanwhile, Pancho‘s relatives own C.M. Pancho Construction Inc. It was founded by Cornelio M. Pancho, Tina’s uncle. 

Rappler’s review of the flood control project database released by Malacañang showed that the Pancho-led firm was not involved in any flood control projects. The company also refuted any allegations that they are involved in any anomalous flood control projects.

While the company is not involved in flood control projects, public documents show that it has secured some government road projects. On December 15, 2020, the DPWH awarded the P1.27-billion Plaridel, Bulacan arterial road bypass project to C.M. Pancho Construction, Inc., with funding sourced from a loan by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Another Rappler investigation found that JLL Pulsar, which was founded by Lara and now owned by his children, cornered P3.7 billion worth of DPWH contracts since fiscal year 2020, coinciding with the time he became a congressman.

In Surigao del Norte, relatives of Matugas dynasty, who owns Boometrix Development Corporation, cornered P10 billion worth of DPWH contracts in the past decade, Rappler’s investigation has showed.

Rappler’s investigation released in September found that Rivera’s Tarlac 3-G Construction has secured P2.3 billion in contracts, with Rivera signing contracts as general manager during his congressional term.

See Rappler’s tracker of politicians with financial interests in companies winning government contracts below:

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TRACKER: Public officials with links to government contractors

– Rappler.com