SONA 2026: Marcos says Ombudsman set to file multiple cases vs ex-Speaker Martin Romualdez

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. opened his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2026) by reporting the charges and detention of ranking officials and contractors in the flood control projects scam, and the expected filing of charges against his cousin, former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Sounding a bit emotional, Marcos said the impending filing of cases against Romualdez hurt him but added that it was something that had to be done.

Marcos, in his State of the Nation Address in 2025 (SONA 2025), with Romualdez still the Speaker of the House, spoke against the corruption of flood control projects and told officials and lawmakers involved to have some shame.

"Mayroon nang mga unang nakasuhan at nakulong: mga kontratista; matataas na opisyal ng DPWH; pati na ang mga mambabatas.Dumating na tayo sa puntong ayon sa Ombudsman ay malapit na ang paghahain ng patong-patong na kaso laban sa dating Speaker. Masakit sa akin ito pero kailangan natin itong gawin,” Marcos said.

“Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya,” he added.

(The first batch have been charged and detained. Contractors, ranking officials of the DPWH, and lawmakers. We have reached a point wherein the Ombudsman said multiple criminal cases will be filed against the former Speaker. This hurts a lot, but it is something we have to do. I am not the President of my family.)

Among those who have been charged and detained in connection with the anomalous flood control projects worth billions of pesos are Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., and former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

In a development related to infrastructure projects, the Sandiganbayan on Monday issued a warrant of arrest against Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang in connection with the 14 graft cases filed against him over his alleged involvement in a government contractor.

The anti-graft court’s Third Division issued the arrest warrant just two days after the Office of the Ombudsman indicted Ang on 14 counts of graft for allegedly having a stake in a construction firm that won P214 million in DPWH contracts, and was paid nearly P199 million for them, even while he is in public office.

The Constitution, among other laws, prevents public officials from having a private stake in government contracts.

Alleged plunder

A special panel of investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed a supplemental complaint affidavit against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, and others for the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

The investigators alleged that Romualdez and Co conspired to amass ill-gotten wealth amounting to P56 billion from 2022 to 2025 through “transactions involving the diversion and misuse of public funds and the receipt of undue pecuniary benefits in connection with government dealings.”

The complaint alleged plunder, graft, and direct bribery.

In a statement following the Ombudsman's announcement, Romualdez’s spokesperson, lawyer Elaine Atienza, reiterated that the lawmaker will face the allegations against him.

“Naniniwala kami na kung magkakaroon ng patas na laban at patas na paghuhusga batay sa ebidensya, mapapatunayan ni Rep. Romualdez ang kanyang panig,” Atienza said.

(We believe that if there is a fair trial and a fair judgment based on the evidence, Rep. Romualdez will be able to prove his side.)

“Hinihiling lamang namin sa publiko na hayaang manaig ang proseso at ebidensya ang magpasya,” she added.

(We are only asking the public to allow due process to prevail and let the evidence determine the outcome.)

The panel said the evidence also revealed that several corporate entities appear to have been utilized as conduits for the diversion and disposition of public funds through the abuse of public office and the use of dummies, nominees, and closely held corporations.

“These entities were used to acquire, hold, transfer, conceal, and obscure assets beneficially owned or controlled by Romualdez and his associates,” the investigators said.

They also impleaded more corporations and individuals.

“While Romualdez and Co exploited their official positions and influence over the national budget process to generate the illicit proceeds… Sereño, the Jane and John Does, and the other co-conspirators knowingly participated, by their individual acts, in the receipt, transport, delivery, concealment, and safekeeping of the enormous sums of cash generated,” the panel said.

“Although their participation varied in character and degree, their acts collectively enabled Romualdez to amass, accumulate, acquire, and conceal ill-gotten wealth, rendering each of them equally liable as conspirators,” it added.

Cash deliveries

The investigators cited the testimony of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

They said that without their public offices and influence, the commitments described by Bernardo and the deliveries of cash to properties associated with Romualdez could not have been generated.

Last week, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the Ombudsman is set to file complaints for preliminary investigation against Romualdez and Co.

“After a thorough and painstaking investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman is set to file two separate complaints for preliminary investigation against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Mr. Elizady Co, and several others,” he said.

During this period, Romualdez was the Speaker of the House of Representatives while Co was the chairperson of the House committee on appropriations. –NB, GMA News