MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla questioned the origin of ₱560 million in alleged money transfers linked to former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez covering the period from 2022 to 2025.
The inquiry follows testimony given on Thursday, November 13, by Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) financial investigator Atty. Jan Mark Busa during Romualdez’s bail hearing. Busa testified that the ₱560.5 million in remittances were unconnected to flood control transactions.
According to the AMLC investigator, the funds did not originate from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), any private contractors, or former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, the former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Co stands as Romualdez’s co-accused in a ₱7.4-billion plunder case involving an alleged flood control kickback scheme.
“Saan nanggaling ‘yun? Saan nanggaling iyong pera? And AMLC is not necessarily the only one who knows where the money came from,” Remulla asked.
When questioned about whether the AMLC witness’s testimony weakened the prosecution’s case against Romualdez, Remulla dismissed the notion entirely.
“Not at all,” Remulla said. “Saka marami pa kaming testigo. Don’t worry about that.”
Other co-accused in the plunder case alongside Romualdez and Co include Romualdez’s personal assistant, Joselyn Tragua Sereño, and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation President Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, who are implicated due to their alleged connections to the kickback scheme.