Rep. Martin Romualdez was charged with plunder for allegedly receiving ₱7.4 billion (~$118M) in kickbacks tied to flood‑control projects, the Office of the Ombudsman said.
Authorities are probing nearly 10,000 projects valued at about ₱545 billion (~$9B), many of which investigators say were substandard, overpriced or not built.
President Marcos called the alleged corruption "horrible" and has launched an independent commission; more charges, including money‑laundering, are expected.
Manila: Rep. Martin Romualdez, a former House speaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was charged Monday with plunder for allegedly receiving ₱7.4 billion (about $118 million) in kickbacks tied to flood‑control projects, officials said.
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed plunder charges at the Sandiganbayan anti‑graft court against Romualdez and several others in a probe of thousands of storm‑protection projects. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the alleged ₱7.4 billion was dispersed across multiple transactions.
"The amount involved here is 7.4 billion pesos ($118 million), and this has been divided in various transactions where the money was used," — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Investigators are scrutinizing nearly 10,000 flood‑control projects worth more than ₱545 billion (roughly $9 billion) that were supposed to have been carried out since President Marcos took office in mid‑2022. Many projects were reportedly substandard, overpriced or not built at all.
Romualdez has denied wrongdoing. Among the other figures implicated are former Rep. Zaldy Co — once head of the House appropriations committee and now considered a fugitive after leaving for Europe — as well as an incumbent senator, a former senator, ex‑government engineers, public works officials and construction executives. Several have been detained and face trial.
Remulla said investigators believe some proceeds were used to buy properties and that suspects allegedly donated $1 million to Harvard University as part of an apparent effort to conceal funds.
The Philippines is highly vulnerable to typhoons — roughly 20 strike the archipelago each year — making effective flood‑control work a national priority. President Marcos described the alleged scale of corruption as "horrible" and has set up an independent commission to probe the matter. The Ombudsman indicated additional cases, including money‑laundering charges, will be filed.
Note: Charges are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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