VP Sara: Romualdez gets kickbacks from illegal gambling; ex-Speaker says she's imagining things

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday alleged that former Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez was also receiving kickbacks from illegal gambling, aside from flood control projects. 

At a press conference at the Senate, Duterte confirmed that she received the information from a staffer of Romualdez, who has also been tipping her regarding the “attacks” on the previous confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President by members of the House of Representatives.

“Hindi lang sa flood control, pati sa ano…sa illegal gambling tumatanggap sila. Si Martin Romualdez. So hindi lang siya sa flood control,” she said. 

(It’s not only flood control. Martin Romualdez is also receiving money from illegal gambling.) 

“Baka kasi ‘yung tao na nagtrabaho nu'ng ‘basura,’ flood control ‘yung pera na tina-transport nila. Pero marami pang iba pang mga sources ng corruption na dine-deliver,” she added. 

(Maybe the person delivering money only got that off flood control projects. But there are many more sources of corruption being delivered.) 

‘Imagining things’

In response, Romualdez denied Duterte’s allegations, saying the Vice President is merely“ imagining things in accusing him without proof.”

"Naririnig ko ang mga akusasyon. Diretsahan kong sasabihin: hindi totoo na ako’y tumatanggap mula sa ilegal na sugal," Romualdez said. 

(I am aware of the allegations and I can directly say that I did not receive any bribe off illegal gambling.) 

Romualdez said such talk from the Vice President is cheap, considering that he is not facing any criminal or administrative charge.

"Sa isyung Okada/Delaware, malinaw: hindi ako kasali, hindi ako iniimbestigahan, at hindi ako akusado. Wala akong kinalaman sa kasong iyon, na away ng dalawang negosyo. Binabalik lang ngayon para siraan ako," Romualdez added.

(On the issue regarding Okada/Delaware, it’s clear that I’m not involved. I was never investigated and I was not an accused. I don’t have anything to do with that case, a rift between businesses. It’s being revived to discredit me.)

Romualdez countered by saying that Duterte, who has yet to face impeachment trial over alleged unlawful disbursement of P625 million worth of confidential funds, has no credibility to begin with.

"Nakakalungkot na ang mismong Bise Presidente, na inakusahan at na-impeach ng House dahil sa maling paggamit ng pondo, ay siya pang nagkakalat ng ganitong kasinungalingan. When the source itself has lost credibility, why should anyone believe these baseless claims?" he said.

(It’s sad that the Vice President herself, who was impeached by the House over misuse of funds, will be the one to spread lies like this. When the source itself has lost credibility, why should anyone believe these baseless claims.)

‘Surprise witness’

During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Thursday, “surprise witness” Orly Regala Guteza claimed that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Romualdez and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, noting that each luggage contained about P48 million.

Both congressmen have denied the accusations. 

The Leyte congressman, cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., cited a "telling flaw" in the testimony of the Guteza, who claimed that deliveries were made to his McKinley home in Makati City beginning December 2024.

"That's impossible. That property has been under renovation since January 2024 and was unoccupied except for construction workers. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus —false in one thing, false in everything," he said.

"This is clearly political and the product of coaching. I will not allow these perjurious statements to pass unchallenged. Hindi ko ito palalampasin (I will not let this pass)," Romualdez added.

During a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing last September 8, contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who are allegedly involved in corruption in the country’s flood control projects.

Among those mentioned by the Discayas was Quezon City Representative Marvin Rillo who reportedly mentioned the name of Romualdez several times as his close friend.

Romualdez underscored that he has never, and will never accept a bribe from anybody. Rillo, meanwhile, denied name-dropping Romualdez, as claimed by Discaya.

Meanwhile, Navotas City Lone District Representative Toby Tiangco revealed earlier this month in a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing that there were supposedly P13.8 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget when Romualdez was House speaker. 

Romualdez reiterated he "never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project." He added he did not authorize anyone to engage in dealings that would taint his name.

He said he is ready to face any investigation any time.

"I welcome a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation to expose these falsehoods. I voluntarily resigned as Speaker of the House of Representatives precisely to demonstrate my full support for the inquiry into flood control issues," he said. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News