Martin Romualdez on Marcos' SONA 2026: I never asked for special treatment

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the former Speaker and cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., said he respected the President’s remarks in his State of the Nation Address (SONA 2026) even if they hurt his family.

Marcos, at the start of SONA 2026, touted the charges that have been filed against some officials, lawmakers, and contractors after he brought to the fore the corruption of flood control projects in his last report to the nation.

He added that the Ombudsman was about to file charges against Romualdez, something that he said hurt him but something that had to be done.

“Masakit man ito sa aming pamilya, iginagalang ko ang naging pahayag ng Pangulo. Hindi ako kailanman humingi ng pabor o espesyal na pagtrato. Sang-ayon ako na gawin natin ang tama,” said Romualdez, a lawyer.

(This is hurtful for our family, and I respect the President’s statements. I never asked for a favor or special treatment. I agree that we should do what is right.)

Romualdez, however, was firm that he could prove his innocence.

“Ang tama ay ang sumunod sa proseso at hayaan ang ebidensya ang magsalita. Naninindigan akong wala akong ginawang anumang labag sa batas. At handa akong patunayan ito,” Romualdez added.

(The right thing to do is to follow due process and let the evidence speak. I maintain that I never committed any criminal act, and I am ready to prove this.)

Marcos started his 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 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. Hindi ako ang Pangulo ng aking pamilya,” Marcos said.

(The first officials 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.

However, the Ombudsman is looking to discharge Bonoan as an accused and make him a state witness in the flood control case. –NB, GMA News