Plunder raps to be filed vs Martin Romualdez on Monday over flood control projects

The Office of the Ombudsman will file with the Sandiganbayan on Monday charges of plunder against former speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez in connection with his alleged links to anomalous flood control projects, sources said, according to GMA News reporter Maki Pulido.

Office of the Ombudsman set to file plunder charges today against Former Speaker Martin Romualdez at the Sandiganbayan.

— maki pulido (@makipulido) September 7, 2026

GMA News Online contacted Romualdez's camp to get their comment but they have yet to issue a statement.

The former speaker's camp on Sunday however appealed to the Office of the Ombudsman for fairness as it sought an opportunity to respond to any new allegations against him.

Ade Fajardo, Romualdez’s legal counsel and spokesperson, made the appeal following reports that former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan may be pressured to link Romualdez to the flood control scandal.

“We are requesting the Ombudsman to inform us if there is any allegation from Secretary Bonoan against former Speaker Romualdez and to give us ample time to comment on it,” Fajardo said.

“Fair play and due process require that such information and opportunity be accorded to us at this point in the process, the preliminary investigation stage, not if and when the Ombudsman decides to file charges in court,” he added.

Romualdez’s legal counsel also requested information on the reported 28 new witnesses before the Ombudsman, including any statements they may have made against their client.

“There is also the report that the Ombudsman has 28 new witnesses. We would like to know if there is any statement from them against our client, and we would like as well to have the opportunity to respond,” he said.

The former speaker was first linked to allegedly anomalous projects in September 2025 when contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya revealed the names of congressmen who allegedly demanded kickbacks, during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

One of the congressmen mentioned by the Discayas was former Quezon City 4th District representative Marvin Rillo.

Curlee Discaya told the committee that Rillo mentioned Romualdez's name several times as his close friend.

Romualdez then branded the claim of Discaya as false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping. He said he would not allow lies to pass unchecked.

''Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain,'' he said in a statement.

(I have no role and I have not allowed this kind of action.)

''Congress debates and approves the budget. It does not release funds. It does not implement projects. That is the sole duty of the Executive and agencies like the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways),'' he added.

Romualdez underscored then that he has never, and will never accept a bribe from anybody.

The former speaker was also mentioned as supposedly having used the Discaya couple as "front" to buy a high-end property in Makati City.

Romualdez however said he has never met the Discayas.

In September 2025, Orly Guteza, who identified himself as an ex-Marine and a former security consultant for then Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, claimed that he personally delivered luggage containing money to the residences of Co in Pasig City and Romualdez in McKinley, Makati City.

Romualdez however said Guteza's testimony was "an outright and complete fabrication".

In February 2026, a group of 18 men who identified themselves as former security personnel of Co — some of them former Marines — surfaced publicly and executed affidavits alleging that they had delivered suitcases of cash to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Romualdez, Co and other personalities. Four of them later recanted their statement.

Guteza also recanted his statement and executed a new affidavit, claiming that Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former House lawmaker Mike Defensor had tapped him to make up accusations against the Leyte congressman in exchange for money and scholarships for his children.

On July 20 this year, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it is set to file preliminary investigation for plunder and the violation of Anti-Money Laundering Act complaints against Romualdez as a result of its fact-finding probe on his alleged involvement in the flood control anomalies.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla later said his office was very close to finishing its fact-finding investigation against Romualdez over the flood control controversy.

Despite the recantation of Guteza, the Office of the Ombudsman said last August that it still has 28 witnesses who have material information on the alleged links of the former speaker to the flood control mess.

Remulla also said Romualdez's camp was behind the recantation of four former bodyguards who also linked him to the flood control mess.

Romualdez's camp however maintained that there is no credible witness linking him to the flood control mess.

Fajardo said much of the prior 32 accusers of the former House leader have since recanted their allegations, including Guteza.

Romualdez's camp decried on September 1 that the Office of the Ombudsman seems to have "prejudged" him as the mastermind of the flood control mess even before the conclusion of its probe. —with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/KG, GMA News