MANILA – A Quezon City Regional Trial Court has dismissed the P1-billion civil case filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, and several other respondents over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

In an order dated April 15, 2026, which was made public on June 29, the court ruled that it did not acquire jurisdiction over the case after the plaintiffs failed to pay the required filing fees despite receiving notice on Feb. 20.

“As above-discussed by the court, plaintiffs failed to file the necessary action which they intend to do with the appellate court and to obtain any relief prohibiting this court to act on the case at bench. Hence, it is proper for this court to continue acting on the case,” the order, penned by Judge Madonna Echiverri, stated.

“This court finds that [it] has not acquired jurisdiction over the case due to the plaintiffs’ failure to pay the filing fee as computed by the Office of the Clerk of Court. Wherefore, this case is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction,” it added.

The complaint for abuse of rights and unjust enrichment was filed in December 2025 by former Quezon City councilor Antonio Enrile Inton Jr., representing the United People’s Against Corruption (UPAC), against Romualdez, Co, Vargas, several unidentified Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and private contractors.

Citing data compiled by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, UPAC alleged that flood control allocations for Vargas’ district reached P944.6 million annually, or about P2.86 billion from 2023 to 2025.

The complainants claimed that despite the allocations, flooding persisted in parts of Quezon City, particularly in the Novaliches area.

“Despite these allocations, residents report little to no improvement in flood conditions in affected barangays… Kung may pondo, dapat may proyekto. Kung may proyekto, dapat may malinaw na resulta. At kung walang resulta, may mananagot (If there is funding, there should be projects. If there are projects, there should be clear results. And if there are no results, someone must be held accountable),” UPAC said in a statement issued in December 2025.

Inton said he has elevated the case to the Court of Appeals through a petition for certiorari questioning the trial court’s ruling.

He maintained that the complaint was not dismissed on the merits and remains pending before the appellate court, adding that the Court of Appeals has already directed them to file their answer in connection with the petition.

According to Inton, the trial court assessed the docket fees at P20 million based on the P1-billion damages sought in the complaint. He also said the lower court ruled that he was not the proper litigant and that there was no proof he was acting as pro bono counsel.

In a statement, Vargas welcomed the dismissal, saying the plaintiffs’ failure to pay the filing fees showed the complaint lacked merit.

“We welcome this decision of the court. From the very start, we were confident that this case would not prosper. Gawa-gawa lamang ang mga akusasyon (The allegations are fabricated),” Vargas said.

“They are just using the courts for a smear campaign. We have always been transparent, but there are groups who want to flip the story,” he added.

Vargas also questioned the motives of the complainants over their failure to pursue the case.

“These instances are a grave misuse of our legal system’s time and resources,” he said.