The Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez over his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal before the Sandiganbayan on Monday, September 7.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano appeared at the Sandiganbayan on Monday, September 7, and said the anti-graft court had received the case filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
According to Clavano, the case will be raffled by the Sandiganbayan later at 1:30 p.m.
The Ombudsman had earlier said it was preparing criminal complaints against Romualdez in connection with the multibillion-peso flood control controversy.
The planned filing comes after the Ombudsman conducted a fact-finding investigation into Romualdez’s alleged involvement in the flood control scandal.
Remulla said in May 2026 that the government was preparing two additional criminal cases against Romualdez, including a money laundering case and what he described as the “grandest case” involving an alleged conspiracy to defraud the national treasury.
“Nandyan na yan. Meron kaming dalawa pang kaso na hinahanda tungkol diyan. Meron kaming isa pang money laundering case, mabigat at of course, the grandest case of them all, ang pinakamabigat na kaso diyan, yung conspiracy to defraud the treasury,” Remulla said during a press briefing.
In July 2026, the anti-graft body said it was proceeding with preliminary investigations into complaints for plunder and violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) against Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
Romualdez’s camp, meanwhile, had appealed to the Ombudsman to give the former Speaker an opportunity to respond to any new allegations before charges are filed in court.
His lawyer and spokesperson, Atty. Ade Fajardo, specifically sought information on any statement that former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan may have made against Romualdez, as well as statements from the 28 witnesses reportedly being handled by the Ombudsman.
Fajardo said fair play and due process require that Romualdez be informed of the allegations and given sufficient time to respond while the case remains at the preliminary investigation stage.
Romualdez has repeatedly denied involvement in the alleged flood control anomalies.
He was first linked to the controversy in 2025 after contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya named lawmakers allegedly involved in kickback schemes during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. Romualdez denied the allegations, saying he had no involvement in, authorization for, or approval of such activities.
In September 2025, Orly Guteza, who identified himself as a former Marine and security aide for Co, claimed that he personally delivered suitcases containing money to the residences of Co and Romualdez.
Guteza later recanted his allegations against Romualdez and executed a new affidavit in August 2026. He claimed that Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor were the brains behind his sword affidavit detailing alleged cash deliveries tied to kickbacks from flood control funds.
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman has said it has 28 witnesses with material information regarding Romualdez’s alleged links to the flood control controversy.
In February 2026, 18 men who identified themselves as former security personnel of Co also surfaced and alleged that they had delivered suitcases containing cash to several personalities, including Romualdez and Co. Four of the men later recanted their statements.
Despite the recantations, the Ombudsman said it still has 28 witnesses with information relevant to its investigation.
Romualdez’s camp has maintained that there is no credible evidence linking him to the alleged flood control scheme. In August, Romualdez filed a supplemental counter-affidavit before the Ombudsman, citing 25 individuals who could dispute allegations made by former security personnel of Co.
