The Office of the Ombudsman has directed former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, along with former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy Co and several other individuals, to submit their counter-affidavits. This order follows a preliminary investigation panel's finding of sufficient basis to require a response to the complaints against them. Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic "Mico" F. Clavano IV confirmed this directive, stating that the respondents have 15 days from receipt to file their submissions.
A 104-page supplemental complaint, filed on July 20 by a special Ombudsman panel, recommends charges against Romualdez, Co, and others for alleged violations of the Plunder Law, anti-graft and bribery laws, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The panel accuses the respondents of engaging in the diversion and misuse of public funds and receiving undue benefits from government transactions, which allegedly led to the unlawful accumulation of approximately $56 billion in ill-gotten wealth between 2022 and 2025. This recommendation is supported by additional documentary and testimonial evidence, including witness accounts of cash deliveries and corporate transactions.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), acknowledged the ongoing investigations into flood control anomalies, emphasizing that they would proceed irrespective of the individuals implicated, including his first cousin, Romualdez. Marcos stated, "I am not the President of my family. I am not the President of my friends. I am the President of the Philippines," and affirmed that authorities should follow the evidence. Romualdez, for his part, stated that he is prepared to face the allegations through the proper legal process, maintaining his innocence and respecting the President's stance. This development is part of a larger crackdown on alleged flood control project scams, where some $100 billion of the total $545 billion allocated for flood control projects since 2022 were reportedly cornered by only 15 contractors.
