MANILA | Former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has been arrested after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant in connection with a P7.44-billion plunder case involving alleged kickbacks from flood control, infrastructure and other government projects, authorities said Monday.
The warrant was served on Romualdez at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, where he was confined after experiencing what Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla described as a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure and an anxiety attack. Remulla and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melecio Nartatez went to the hospital to oversee the serving of the warrant.
GMA News reported that Romualdez was read the warrant and his rights in the presence of his lawyer and underwent the booking procedure inside the hospital. Armed police were stationed outside his room and in the hospital lobby. Remulla said Romualdez is now considered a person deprived of liberty, although doctors will continue monitoring his condition until he is medically fit to appear before the court.
The arrest came only hours after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Romualdez aide Joselyn Tragua Serenio and businessman Felicito Cristobal Guevarra.
According to the criminal information, prosecutors accused Romualdez and Co of repeatedly receiving commissions, shares, kickbacks, “commitments” and other financial benefits on at least 15 occasions, totaling at least P7.44 billion. The alleged payments were linked to contractors and other entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and other government projects funded from the national budgets between 2022 and 2025.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued warrants against all four accused after finding probable cause based on the Ombudsman’s resolution, supporting documents and records. The court also issued hold-departure orders, and the warrants state that no bail is recommended.
The court emphasized, however, that the issuance of an arrest warrant is not a finding of guilt. It means only that the court found probable cause to believe that the accused may have committed the offense charged. All four remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Romualdez’s lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said his client respects the courts and will face the allegations through the legal process. He called for the case to be resolved based on evidence and the safeguards of due process. Romualdez has previously denied involvement in the flood-control corruption allegations.
The case is part of a much wider government investigation into alleged irregularities in flood-control projects, an issue that has drawn intense public attention after questions were raised over projects that were allegedly overpriced, defective or never completed. The scandal has prompted investigations by government agencies and renewed scrutiny of how billions of pesos in public infrastructure funds were awarded and implemented.
Plunder is defined and penalized under Republic Act No. 7080, enacted in 1991. The law targets public officials accused of amassing ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of criminal acts amounting to at least P50 million.
Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., served as Speaker of the House from 2022 until his removal from the post earlier this year. His arrest marks one of the most significant developments so far in the government’s investigation into the alleged flood-control scandal.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
