Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez could face further charges as the government expands its probe into multi-billion-peso irregularities surrounding flood control projects, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano disclosed that while witness statements and physical evidence point to alleged corrupt deliveries valued between ₱56 billion and ₱57 billion, prosecutors initially moved forward with a ₱7.4-billion plunder charge—the specific portion investigators felt was fully established.
“‘Yung ₱7.4B naman po, actually ang nasa statements ng mga Maleta Boys ay nasa ₱56 or ₱57B talaga ang kabuuan ng mga deliveries,” Clavano said.
“But the subject po ng unang kaso na ito ay ₱7.4B dahil ‘yun po talaga ang na-prove ng ating investigators.”
Clavano confirmed that the remaining sum will serve as the foundation for upcoming legal proceedings against those involved.
”The rest of the amount, ‘yung ₱49B to almost ₱50B, ay magiging subject po ng kasunod na kaso,” he added.
The Ombudsman filed the initial ₱7.4-billion suit on Monday, September 7, implicating Romualdez alongside former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and two co-respondents.
Following the filing, the Sandiganbayan issued warrants of arrest for the four individuals, leading to Romualdez’s custody under hospital detention at Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla reinforced that the current case is merely the first wave of legal actions stemming from financial audits, official documentation, and witness testimony—including from uncooperative sources.
”Hindi lang ho ito, marami pa pong kasong ihahain dito… May iba pang plunder cases at marami po rito, money laundering cases,” Remulla said.
“Iyan ay kitang-kita po sa aming mga pag-aaral ng mga pangyayari at sa mga nakausap naming testigo at sa mga ayaw tumestigo, pero gagawin naming hostile cases,” he added.