MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday filed a P7.4-billion plunder case against Leyte congressman and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged involvement in a massive kickback scheme tied to government flood control projects.
The filing brings the corruption allegations against Romualdez before the anti-graft court, which could issue an arrest warrant should it find probable cause to proceed with the case.
The charges followed a months-long Ombudsman investigation into allegations that Romualdez received kickbacks from infrastructure projects tainted by corruption, including cash allegedly delivered to him in suitcases.
The Ombudsman’s special panel had earlier alleged that Romualdez, resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and other individuals conspired to accumulate around P56 billion in supposed ill-gotten wealth from 2022 to 2025.
Investigators alleged that the scheme involved the diversion and misuse of government funds and the receipt of benefits from public infrastructure projects.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano previously described Romualdez as the alleged “central figure” in the purported diversion of public funds intended for flood control projects.
Among the evidence initially gathered by investigators were sworn statements from former members of Co’s security detail, who became known as the “maleta boys” after claiming they transported suitcases containing cash to Romualdez.
Four of the 18 witnesses later withdrew their statements, but the Ombudsman maintained that the recantations would not derail the case.
The anti-graft agency said it had 42 witnesses lined up, including 14 remaining “maleta boys” and 28 other individuals.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said last week that the cases would proceed despite the recantations, with investigators completing the evidence needed to build a strong case before the courts.
Romualdez has consistently denied the allegations and sought the dismissal of the complaints.
He maintained that the witnesses’ recantations had weakened the accusations against him and insisted there was no credible evidence linking him to the alleged kickback operation./PN
