Ombudsman Orders Romualdez to Answer Flood Control Corruption Allegations

FORMER Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the other respondents in the Office of the Ombudsman’s flood control investigation have been ordered to submit their counter-affidavits after the agency’s preliminary investigation panel found sufficient basis to require them to answer the complaints. Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” F. Clavano IV confirmed the order on Tuesday, saying the respondents have 15 days from receipt to file their counter-affidavits. “When all parties have submitted, the case will be submitted for resolution,” he said in a statement. The order follows the filing on July 20 of a 104-page supplemental complaint by a special Ombudsman panel against Mr. Romualdez, former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Elizaldy S. Co and several others, recommending charges for violations of the Plunder Law, anti-graft and bribery laws and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The panel alleged the respondents were involved in the diversion and misuse of public funds and the receipt of undue benefits tied to government transactions, resulting in the unlawful accumulation of about P56 billion in ill-gotten wealth from 2022 to 2025. The recommendation cited additional documentary and testimonial evidence, including alleged cash deliveries, witness accounts and corporate transactions. The directive to submit counter-affidavits is part of the preliminary investigation and does not mean charges have been filed in court. Prosecutors will determine whether there is probable cause to elevate the cases to the Sandiganbayan after evaluating the parties’ submissions. The development came a day after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), said investigations into flood control anomalies would continue regardless of who may be implicated, including Mr. Romualdez, his first cousin. Citing information from the Ombudsman, he said several cases involving the former Speaker were nearing filing. “I am not the President of my family. I am not the President of my friends. I am the President of the Philippines,” Mr. Marcos said in Filipino, adding that authorities should follow the evidence wherever it leads. The Ombudsman also said it would continue pursuing the investigation “without fear or favor.” “We are likewise grateful that this office has been left free to carry out its constitutional mandate and to follow the evidence wherever it leads, including to those closest to the President himself,” Mr. Clavano said. Mr. Romualdez’s camp said after the President’s SONA that he was prepared to face the allegations through the proper legal process. “I agree that we should do what is right,” Mr. Romualdez said in a statement in Filipino. “What is right is to follow the process and let the evidence speak. I maintain that I have not done anything against the law, and I am ready to prove this.” He added that while the matter was painful for his family, he respected the President’s statement and had never sought any favor or special treatment. Investigators last year confirmed that 421 of roughly 8,000 flood control projects nationwide were “ghosts” — nonexistent despite being allocated funds. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has faced recurring questions over the integrity of its flood control program, a key infrastructure item in annual budgets. The “ghost” project revelations reinforced longstanding suspicions of systemic graft tied to infrastructure contracts. Mr. Marcos has said some P100 billion of the total P545 billion in government funds that were allocated for flood control projects nationwide since 2022 were cornered by just 15 contractors. TAGUIG PROJECTS Also on Tuesday, Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said he has submitted documentary and testimonial evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman for its evaluation and possible investigation into anomalies involving P14.4 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Taguig City from 2020 to 2025. In a statement, Mr. Lacson said the evidence could support possible cases of plunder, malversation and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. He alleged the projects involved illegal reclamation, ghost projects and double appropriations but did not identify those responsible. Mr. Lacson said he expects the Ombudsman to use the evidence to expedite its probe. The senator earlier said his office had uncovered defective infrastructure projects with “overlapping spans” that allowed kickbacks. He also said investigators had identified more bagmen linked to the projects. Mr. Lacson maintained that while his probe may be seen as connected to his recent exchanges with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who hails from Taguig, the investigation is not meant to single out the city. “We always had the records on questionable projects in Taguig City but we had to initially focus on Bulacan and Occidental Mindoro and other areas,” he said. “Now that Cayetano attacked my integrity, I instructed my staff to focus on Taguig.” In a Facebook livestream, Mr. Cayetano said he welcomed the filing of the evidence with the Ombudsman. “I welcome that in the same manner that I tell everyone that accountability is necessary,” he said. “Once the accusation is there and it is specific, we will answer it.” — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez and Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel