Warrant of Arrest Issued Against Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez for P7.44 Billion Plunder Case

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division on Monday, September 7, issued a warrant of arrest against Leyte 1st District Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over his P7.44 billion plunder case. Plunder is a non-bailable offense, meaning Romualdez will likely be held under police custody once he is arrested by the Philippine National Police or surrenders to authorities. He is also likely to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, the designated detention center for flood control-related cases. Must Read Martin Romualdez charged with plunder The Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder case earlier on Monday against Romualdez and his co-accused: former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co, Joselyn Serenio, and Felicito Guevarra. Co is currently at large. Romualdez allegedly received P7.44 billion in kickbacks from Co. According to the Ombudsman, Romualdez allegedly received kickbacks around 15 times from Co’s staff, from September 2022 to 2025. This was for the P2-billion monthly quota or collections Romualdez imposed on Co, the Ombudsman said in Filipino. Serenio reportedly received cash deliveries at the lawmaker’s different houses and properties. Romualdez allegedly used nearly P5 billion from these kickbacks to establish shell or dummy companies like Golden Pheasant Holdings Corporation, Braavos Holdings Opc, and Valiant Consolidated Resources, Inc., it added. According to the Ombudsman, their case against Romualdez and co-accused stands on the evidence and testimonies from several witnesses, including former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, among others. At past 5 pm on Monday, the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division confirmed that it had issued a warrant and hold departure order against Romualdez and fellow accused. “The issuance of a warrant of arrest signifies only that, after personally evaluating the records, the Court found probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged. Probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest exists when the facts and circumstances alleged by the prosecution would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent person to believe that an offense has been committed by the person sought to be arrested,” said the 3rd Division. Department of the Interior and Local Government chief Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla also confirmed that Romualdez’s warrant had been signed Monday afternoon. “Yes. We have confirmed that it has already been signed,” Remulla told Rappler. Remulla later confirmed to Rappler that Romualdez is currently confined in Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. He added that they will wait for hospital clearance before bringing the former speaker to the Sandiganbayan for the return of his warrant. – Rappler.com