Philippine President's Lawmaker Cousin Charged over Flood Control Scandal
The anti-graft court found probable cause in the alleged kickback scheme and said no bail is recommended for the accused.
- On Monday, September 7, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, involving 7.4 billion pesos in alleged bribes and anomalous budget allocations.
- Prosecutors allege Romualdez served as the "central figure" in a scheme diverting funds meant for flood control projects, following his resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives in September 2025.
- The Ombudsman seeks to use former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a state witness to testify against Romualdez; the filing also names former Representative Zaldy Co, Joselyn Traguia Serenio, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra as co-accused.
- Romualdez, who remains a member of Congress, denies wrongdoing and claims the budget process involves the entire House and Senate, while Lawyer Ade Fajardo stated his client respects the legal process.
- Plunder is a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment in the Philippines, and this case targets "ghost" infrastructure projects that have long plagued the Southeast Asian nation of 112 million people.
30 Articles
30 Articles
Malay Mail
AlKhaleej TodayPhilippine prosecutors charge Marcos’ lawmaker cousin with plunder over ‘ghost’ flood projects
MANILA, Sept 7 — Philippine prosecutors filed a criminal charge today against a lawmaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos over his alleged involvement in a massive...
The Toronto Star
A Philippine lawmaker charged with corruption in flood control projects
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine lawmaker and former speaker of the House of Representatives was charged Monday for allegedly pocketing millions of dollars in kickbacks from flood control projects in a widening scandal concerning vital public construction to shield…
Ex-Speaker Romualdez faces plunder raps
MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over alleged kickbacks worth over P7 billion. The same charges were also filed against against former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and others for allegedly engaging in “concerted and coordinated acts” to unlawfully amass, accumulate
South China Morning Post
PressNewsAgencyPhilippine president’s cousin charged over US$118 million flood scandal
Philippine prosecutors filed a criminal charge on Monday against a lawmaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr over his alleged involvement in a massive corruption scandal involving bogus flood-control projects. The case came more than a year after Marcos put the so-called “ghost” infrastructure projects, believed to have cost Filipino taxpayers billions of dollars, centre stage in a public address. Several construction firm owners, go…
THE PHILIPPINE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE FILED A CORRUPTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MARTIN ROMALDEZ, A FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND A COUSIN OF PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS JR., IN A FLOOD PREVENTION PROGRAM CORRUPTION CASE.
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