Palace rejects claim that Marcos betrayed Romualdez

Malacañang on Wednesday rejected the claim that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. betrayed his cousin, former speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, following the latter's arrest on plunder charges over the flood control corruption scandal.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said this in a Palace briefing when asked for a comment that Marcos seemingly turned his back on his cousin—known to be his erstwhile staunch ally—to face the charges against him.

"Hindi ko gusto ang word na 'nilaglag.' So kung may mga kritikong nagsasabing nilaglag, hindi namin nais gamitin ang word na nilaglag," Castro said in response to a question regarding criticisms on social media that the President threw his cousin under the bus.

(I don't like the word 'nilaglag.' So, if there are critics saying that, we do not wish to use that word.)

"Dahil ito naman po, according to the Office of the Ombudsman, mayroon silang nakitang ebidensya. So walang dapat nilalaglag dito. Kung ano lang ang ebidensya na nandiyan, doon lang tayo bumase," she added.

(In this case, according to the Office of the Ombudsman, they found evidence. So, there is no one being dropped here. We should simply base our actions on evidence.)

Castro also maintained that the President is "neutral" and respects the processes under the law.

Citing the Office of the Ombudsman, she also said a number of pending cases are still under investigation against other individuals in relation to the flood control mess.

Romualdez was arrested on Monday at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, the same day that the Office of the Ombudsman filed a P7.4-billion plunder charge against him and three others over their alleged involvement in flood control project kickbacks.

The former speaker sought the approval of the Sandiganbayan Third Division to grant him "continued hospital confinement" as he faces his plunder case.

In a nine-page manifestation addressed to the Sandiganbayan, Romualdez said that he was admitted to the hospital on September 7, 2026, citing his medical history that included issues with his cardiovascular and brain condition.

Hospital detention

Castro also distanced the President from discussions on whether Romualdez will be allowed to remain under hospital detention following his arrest.

"Sa ngayon walang pinag-uusapan tungkol sa hospital arrest. Depende na po kasi 'yan kung ano ang magiging findings ng doktor at mas nanaisin po natin kung ang magbibigay ng suhestiyon na ito ay masasabi nating hindi kaugnay kay Speaker Romualdez," she said.

(As of now, there are no discussions regarding the hospital arrest. That will depend on the doctor's findings, and we would prefer that the person making the recommendation be someone who is not linked to speaker Romualdez.)

"Kumbaga neutral, ang kanyang findings ay neutral. So depende na po 'yan sa doktor. Hiindi 'yan panghihimasukan ng administration at hindi po natin masasaklawan kung anong pakiramdam, health condition ng sino mang akusado," she added.

(The person giving the findings should be neutral. So, that is up to the doctor. The administration will not interfere with that, and we cannot dictate the health condition or how any accused individual is feeling.)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has prepared a room for Romualdez in case he is allowed to remain under hospital detention following his arrest on plunder charges.

However, the Office of the Ombudsman stood firm that it would "strongly oppose" Romualdez's bid for hospital detention.

Will Marcos visit?

Castro also said she has no information whether Marcos intends to visit Romualdez in the hospital.

She said how the President personally feels about the situation need not be aired in public.

"Ang pakiramdam po ng Pangulo personal ay hindi naman po siguro ito dapat nang alamin natin. Ang kailangan lang po dito ay dapat mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot," Castro said.

(The President's feelings on the matter are personal. We don't need to pry into those. What matters is that those who need to be held accountable are held accountable.)

"Hindi na po siguro makakaapekto kung ano man ang damdamin ng Pangulo—masaya, malungkot, anuman, hindi na po siya importante. Ang importante po dito ay gumagana ang ating hustisya at kung kailangan na siya ay (masingil) kung mayroon man dahilan at ito ay makikita sa korte, hayaan na po natin ang korte na siyang humusga sa kasong ito," she continued.

(Whatever the President feels—whether happy, sad, or otherwise—it doesn't matter. What's important is that our justice system is working. If there are grounds to hold someone liable, and if this is something to be determined in court, let's just leave that to the court.) — VDV, GMA News