Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla revealed that his office has traced a money trail allegedly linking Senator Chiz Escudero to questionable flood control projects under investigation.
“We have statements of a money trail leading to him, narrations of fact that are there already…but of course, we want to buttress it with other evidence which we’re looking at right now,” Remulla said.
Remulla added that former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez could also be held accountable for gross negligence in connection with the actions of former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, who is facing criminal charges over an anomalous ₱289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
“Leadership principle ‘yan eh. The buck stops with you,” Remulla noted.
Co, who previously chaired the House Committee on Appropriations during Romualdez’s term as Speaker, played a key role in crafting the controversial 2025 national budget, which critics say contains multiple questionable insertions.
Both Escudero and Romualdez have denied receiving any kickbacks, insisting that the accusations are politically motivated.