THE Sandiganbayan has considered a petition from the Office of the Ombudsman to prevent former speaker Martin Romualdez from leaving the country, and the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division has submitted it for resolution.
The Ombudsman’s application for the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order was raffled off Tuesday to the Seventh Division, which heard the case on Wednesday.
While there is no case filed in the Sandiganbayan against Romualdez, the congressional representative of Leyte’s first district, the Ombudsman based its application on a complaint-affidavit filed by its Special Panel of Investigators before its Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office against Romualdez and others for plunder.
The Ombudsman said the complaints involved “the alleged kickback scheme tied to flood control projects, purportedly masterminded by the respondent, with the total amount of such kickbacks” reaching P56 billion.
Mentioned in the application were former lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co’s statements in video recordings as well as Orly Guteza’s testimony.
Romualdez, who has asked the House to authorize his travel to Singapore for medical reasons, has denied all charges against him.
“I have never authorized, instructed or allowed anyone to engage in any conduct that would betray the people or taint my name,” he said.
He also reiterated that he never received any kickbacks in any infrastructure project.
Romualdez, who is still in the country, said he has been cooperative.
“I personally appeared before the proper authorities. I voluntarily submitted my affidavit to the ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure). I provided the information and documents asked of me. I did not hide. I did not run. I did not evade scrutiny. I faced it head-on, within the proper channel, because I know there is no evidence that proves I committed plunder, conspiracy to commit plunder or any similar offense, he said, referring to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure that had recommended further investigation of the former speaker’s role.
But Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the Senate gave Romualdez the opportunity to refute allegations linking him to the “mangling” of the 2025 budget, but he did not do it.
The senator, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), said Romualdez had been invited on Nov. 14, 2025 and Jan. 19, 2026 to attend the investigation on the flood control budget scandal.
“The Blue Ribbon Committee gave the former speaker at least two chances through official invitations to testify under oath and public scrutiny to what may be his strong argument against allegations of masterminding the ‘mangling beyond recognition’ of the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference, which he now claims to have been made by only two people — then SP (Senate President) [Francis] Chiz Escudero and ex cong[ressman] and House Appropriations Chairman Zaldy Co,” Lacson wrote on X.
The BRC sent the invitations to Romualdez through the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III, in keeping with inter-parliamentary courtesy but Romualdez failed to attend.
On Tuesday, Romualdez issued a video message denying involvement in the 2025 budget deliberations. He attributed the budget decisions to Escudero and Co.
Romualdez also said that he was not part of the bicameral conference committee or the “small committee” that made changes to the 2025 General Appropriations Bill after it was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The opposition-led August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) on Wednesday called on Romualdez to name more names if he does not want to “go alone.”
In a statement, the group, known for its involvement in the 1986 People Power Revolution, said the Filipino people are done being played.
“This is not politics anymore; it is a racket. A system of powerful people protecting each other while the rest of us pay for it, literally and otherwise. Enough with the shows and excuses. We’re fed up,” ATOM said.
“Officials on both sides are running the same tired playbook: deny everything, hide behind procedure, weaponize technicalities, hire better if not more lawyers, release carefully worded statements and wait for the public to get tired,” they added. “Meanwhile, billions disappeared into ‘projects’ no one can verify, confidential funds escape audit and communities drown while the people responsible go on television looking offended that anyone would dare ask a question.” The group said Romualdez’s statement is “less like a principled stand and more like a threat dressed up as a warning.”
“You promised sworn statements and supporting documents, so deliver them, all of them, unredacted, right now, not in the next press conference. If you truly will not go alone, then name the people who stand with you. Show the approvals, the signatures, the insertions, the decision points, the text messages, the chain of command,” they said.
“And accept that accountability doesn’t conveniently stop at your district or your allies — it follows the money wherever it goes, no matter how far it reaches or who needs to be charged. If you meant what you said, then stand by it. If not, then you’re just another politician buying time,” the opposition group added.
