Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez now faces two formal complaints filed by the Office of the Ombudsman — one for plunder and another for violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act — stemming from allegations that billions of pesos in public funds meant for flood control projects were illegally diverted. The complaints, announced on July 20, also name former Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co and a number of other respondents.
Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic "Mico" Clavano IV delivered the public announcement and identified Romualdez as the "central figure" in the alleged scheme, according to the Ombudsman's office. The complaints are filed for preliminary investigation — a critical procedural step that precedes any formal court charge and determines whether the evidence is sufficient to elevate the matter to the Sandiganbayan, the country's anti-graft tribunal.
Former Security Personnel at the Heart of the Evidence
The evidentiary backbone of the complaints rests on sworn affidavits from eight individuals who formerly served as personal security personnel for Co, according to Clavano. He emphasized that their accounts constitute firsthand testimony — not secondhand hearsay — detailing specific amounts allegedly handed over from Co to Romualdez during the period in question.
Atty. Levito Baligod, legal counsel for the former marines, disclosed that the eight whose statements anchor the complaints were randomly chosen from a larger group of 18 former security personnel. The Ombudsman's lawyers conducted individual interviews with each of them and required separate sworn affidavits.
Baligod signaled that the process is far from complete. His remark — "Walo pa lang yan," meaning "that is still only eight" — indicated that sworn statements from the remaining ten potential witnesses have yet to be formally taken and may be submitted at a later stage of the investigation.
Scope of the Filing Clarified
Clavano was deliberate in clarifying what the announcement represents and what it does not. The filing of a complaint for preliminary investigation, he said, is not equivalent to a formal charge before a court, and it certainly does not amount to a conviction. It reflects the Ombudsman's determination that the evidence collected warrants a thorough and formal inquiry into the allegations.
The Ombudsman's office also affirmed that all respondents retain the presumption of innocence and will be given the full opportunity to present their defenses before any prosecutorial decision is made.
Earlier Sanctions Had Already Been Imposed
The complaints come on top of a string of legal actions that had previously been taken against Romualdez. Court records show that the Court of Appeals, in April, ordered the freezing of assets linked to him after finding probable cause connecting those assets to alleged plunder, graft, and bribery. A hold departure order — affirmed by the Sandiganbayan — was also placed against him, and the United States government cancelled both his diplomatic and tourist visas.
Despite those restrictions, the Ombudsman's office received credible intelligence indicating that Romualdez has continued to attempt to leave the country, according to Clavano, who issued a call to all relevant government agencies to actively prevent any such departure.
Co, who previously chaired the House appropriations committee, has already left the Philippines and is presently considered a fugitive.
Ombudsman Had Telegraphed the Move Days Earlier
The July 20 announcement did not come entirely without warning. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had publicly stated on July 17 that his office was "very close" to filing plunder charges against Romualdez, as reported by Rappler. State prosecutors, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, have estimated the alleged kickbacks linked to the flood control projects at approximately ₱56 billion — funds that were originally intended to protect Filipino communities from flooding.
Romualdez Maintains Innocence
Romualdez's legal team has consistently denied any wrongdoing on his part. His lawyers said he is willing to go through the proper legal process but maintained that no solid proof directly links him to the alleged anomalies, adding that the matter remains at the case build-up stage, according to the Daily Tribune.
The defense has also raised questions about the credibility of the affidavits submitted by Co's alleged bagmen, pointing to what it described as inconsistencies in their accounts. Romualdez himself has denied being the mastermind behind the scheme, and his camp has argued that budget decisions were made by other individuals.
What Happens Next in the Process
With the complaints now formally filed, Romualdez and all other named respondents will be required to submit their answers to the allegations and present whatever defenses they wish to raise. A panel of prosecutors within the Ombudsman's office will then review both the complaints and the responses before determining whether the case warrants elevation to the Sandiganbayan for full trial.
The filing of two separate complaints — one for plunder under Republic Act No. 7080 and one for Anti-Money Laundering Act violations — reflects the Ombudsman's layered approach to the case, targeting both the alleged theft of public funds and the financial mechanisms allegedly used to conceal or move the proceeds.
By the Numbers
- 2 separate complaints filed — covering plunder and Anti-Money Laundering Act violations
- ₱56 billion — estimated value of alleged kickbacks from flood control projects, according to state prosecutors as cited by the Philippine Daily Inquirer
- 8 former Co security personnel whose sworn statements form the evidentiary core of the complaints
- 18 total former security personnel identified as potential witnesses in the case
- July 17, 2025 — date Ombudsman Remulla publicly signaled that filing was imminent, per Rappler
- April 2025 — month the Court of Appeals ordered the freezing of assets linked to Romualdez, per court records
Why This Matters
The lodging of plunder and money laundering complaints against a former House Speaker represents a major development in one of the largest public fund corruption cases in recent Philippine history, with state prosecutors pegging the alleged kickbacks at roughly ₱56 billion drawn from funds designated to shield communities from flooding. The firsthand testimony of eight former security personnel — with potentially ten more affidavits to follow — forms an unusually direct evidentiary foundation that the Ombudsman's office has described as substantial enough to justify a full preliminary investigation. Should the case ultimately reach the Sandiganbayan and end in conviction, plunder under Republic Act No. 7080 carries the penalty of reclusion perpetua under Philippine law.
Source: Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Daily Tribune