Romualdez, Co charged with plunder over P7-B kickbacks

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two other co-accused before the Sandiganbayan over alleged kickbacks worth over P7 billion. “We don’t want to have a case that is still raw,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said in his press conference in Filipino. “We want the evidence to be there already. That’s what we did here, the process was not easy.” According to the information containing the formal charges filed by prosecutors before the anti-graft court, Romualdez and Co were charged with “repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least fifteen (15) occasions, commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, ‘commitments’ and/or other pecuniary benefits” worth at least P7.44 billion. Aside from Co, also charged were Romualdez’s staff Jocelyn Sereño and a certain Felecito Guevarra, president of a money changer corporation. READ: Probe of Romualdez, Co tags firms, ‘maleta’ use The amount allegedly came from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, according to the information. Furthermore, the information stated this amount was “specifically traced and laundered in setting up and/or using shell or dummy corporations and conduits” allegedly received by Sereño. According to the Ombudsman resolution, Romualdez allegedly gave a P2 billion monthly “quota” for kickbacks. This case has been raffled off to the Sandiganbayan Third Division. READ: Sona 2026: Marcos says cases vs Romualdez to proceed A political analyst welcomed the Ombudsman’s move, saying “the Ombudsman has fulfilled his promise.” “But the filing of the complaint is just a first step,” said Michael Henry Yusingco, a nonresident research fellow at the Ateneo School of Government, in a message to Inquirer. “The Ombudsman must still prosecute the case and ensure a conviction verdict. And this is where we begin to feel anxious again.” Inquirer sought comment from Romualdez’s camp, but they had yet to respond as of posting. Marcos, in his fifth State of the Nation Address in July, said “we have to do what is right” as the anti-graft body is preparing to file cases against his cousin Romualdez. Romualdez said he “respects” the statement of Marcos as he repeatedly denied charges against him, saying he is ready to prove that he did not do anything illegal. /dl First posted 12:50 pm