OPPOSITION senators have recommended the filing of criminal charges against former House speaker Martin Romualdez in connection with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into allegedly anomalous flood control projects.
The recommendation was contained in a 576-page minority report that, according to its authors, was submitted on Dec. 10, 2025. The report stemmed from the Blue Ribbon Committee’s inquiry.
Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos announced the submission of the report in a press briefing, saying it was based on the first three hearings conducted while Marcoleta was the chairman of the panel, as well as the succeeding three hearings presided over by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Six opposition senators signed the minority report: Marcoleta, Marcos, Robin Padilla, Ronald dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Go. Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano was unable to sign due to illness, while Sen. Francis Escudero is not a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee. Sen. Joel Villanueva said he would first review the report before taking a position.
The report lists several politicians, public officials, and private individuals implicated during the hearings. It includes a diagram purporting to illustrate the alleged links among those involved, with accountability allegedly converging on Romualdez.
On page 90, the report states that Romualdez cannot evade responsibility, arguing that even if he were not an accomplice, he could be liable for neglect of duty as House leader.
However, Senate President Vicente Sotto III questioned the validity of the report, saying it carries no legal or legislative weight without an approved committee report and formal plenary action.
In a phone interview with reporters on Jan. 20, Sotto said he has not received any minority report and stressed that Senate rules require minority reports to be filed only after the submission of a committee’s majority or main report.
“It only comes after the committee report. That’s where the minority report is entertained,” Sotto said. “If there is no report of the main committee, there is no minority report.”
Addressing claims that the document had been submitted to his office last December, Sotto said he did not recall receiving it and emphasized that even if it had been forwarded, it would be considered unofficial.
Sotto also questioned why veteran legislators would submit such a document directly to the Office of the Senate President, noting that standard procedure requires committee reports to be filed with the Bills and Index.
He emphasized that the minority report has no effect.
“Unless it is an official report already in the Bills and Index, and it has been taken up in plenary, then that has weight,” he said. “At the moment, it’s a media report.”
“Even a majority report — no matter what Blue Ribbon Committee report that is — unless it is taken up in plenary, it is nothing. It’s simply a piece of paper,” he added.
“When it is passed in plenary, that’s the time it has value,” he said. “That’s the time it is sent to the Ombudsman, sent to the DOJ, or whatever office may be of value.”