Former Speaker Martin Romualdez Speaks on Flood Control Accusations against him
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – The former House Speaker maintained his innocence amid the accusations of corruption hurled against him.
Presidential cousin and former Speaker Romualdez is one of the government officials tagged in the flood control mess in the Philippines. Contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya were the first ones to mention the name of the then-Speaker during a Senate flood control hearing over the alleged “kickback system”.
The Discayas claimed that Romualdez is allegedly one of the congressmen who get kickback from the flood control projects awarded to their companies. During a flood control probe in the House of Representatives, Curlee Discaya admitted that he didn’t have a direct transaction with the then-Speaker.
During another Senate flood control hearing, Orly Guteza, a former aide of Zaldy Co, claimed that he was allegedly part of the team that delivered suitcases filled with millions of money to the residence of Co and Romualdez. The Leyte Congressman has stepped down from being the House Speaker prior to it.
Recently, former Speaker Martin Romualdez was once again accused of corruption when Zaldy Co claimed that he and President Bongbong Marcos allegedly masterminded a P10-billion budget insertion in the 2025 national fund. According to Co, Marcos Jr. and Romualdez allegedly got all of the supposed P56 billion kickback.
Amid the public’s call for accountability, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that flood control charges may be filed against former Speaker Martin Romualdez in 6 to 9 months. Pres. Bongbong Marcos also previously claimed that the Office of the Ombudsman will be looking into the information submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Marcos Jr. previously claimed that Romualdez and his allies in politics will not be spared from the flood control probe. He is confident that the flood control investigation will follow where the evidence will lead.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez previously appeared before the ICI for the flood control investigation. According to him, he is willing to extend any help to speed up the resolution of the issue. Recently, the Leyte Congressman reiterated his innocence amid the accusations of corruption hurled against him.
“I willingly submitted myself to the ICI’s fact-finding process, appeared voluntarily and remained in the country,” the former House Speaker said in a statement read by lawyer, Ade Fajardo.
Based on a report on PhilStar, former Speaker Martin Romualdez also claimed that no sworn evidence has linked him to any anomaly. According to him, the case is now up to the Ombudsman. His lawyer affirmed that he remains in Metro Manila.
“Throughout all these proceedings, no sworn or credible evidence has ever linked me to any irregularity, and again, my conscience remains clear,” Romualdez said.
Recently, Pres. Bongbong Marcos claimed that charges might be filed not only against Zaldy Co but as well as his own cousin, former Speaker Romualdez.