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Charged

Martin Romualdez

Leyte 1st District Representative; former Speaker of the House

Lakas-CMD

Accusations

  • Named by witness Orly Guteza as recipient of approximately P1.68 billion in cash delivered via 35 high-end suitcases to a property in McKinley Forbes Park (Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, September 25, 2025).
  • Subject of an Ombudsman plunder complaint alleging total kickbacks of approximately P56 billion across the flood control scheme.
  • Named by former Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy Co (in a video series not delivered under oath) as a principal of the kickback scheme alongside others.

Denial

Romualdez has characterized the allegations as "complete fabrication." He has stated that the McKinley Forbes Park property has been unoccupied and under renovation since January 2024, and that he has "never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project."

Connected events

  1. Official action

    Martin Romualdez resigns as Speaker of the House

    The third most powerful office in the country, vacated. Martin Romualdez resigned as Speaker of the House amid mounting allegations connecting him to flood control kickbacks. He kept his seat as Leyte 1st District representative.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Romualdez has denied receiving or benefiting from any kickbacks in flood control or other infrastructure projects, characterizing the allegations against him as fabrications. His resignation statement framed the step as institutional protection rather than admission.

  2. New allegation Contested

    Ex-Marines witness alleges P1.68B suitcase delivery to Romualdez residence

    P1.68B alleged delivered in cash

    Former Marines master sergeant Orly Guteza testifies before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, alleging the delivery of approximately P1.68 billion in cash, packed into 35 high-end Rimowa suitcases, to a property in McKinley Forbes Park associated with Martin Romualdez. The testimony is given under oath.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Romualdez denied the allegations, stating that the property in question has been unoccupied and under renovation since January 2024 and that he has "never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project." His office characterized the testimony as part of a coordinated political attack.

  3. New allegation Contested

    Eighteen ex-Marines corroborate Guteza cash-delivery testimony at Club Filipino

    Eighteen former Marines appear at Club Filipino in San Juan, presented by counsel Levi Baligod, to corroborate the September 2025 testimony of Orly Guteza regarding cash deliveries to residences associated with named officials in the flood control kickback scheme.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Romualdez has consistently denied receiving or benefiting from any kickbacks in flood control or other infrastructure projects. His office characterized the press conference as a coordinated attempt to amplify earlier discredited claims.

  4. Official action

    Ombudsman files plunder and graft complaint against Romualdez

    P56.00B total kickbacks alleged

    ₱56 billion. That is the kickback figure the Office of the Ombudsman put on paper in a plunder and graft complaint against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, across the flood control infrastructure scheme.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Romualdez through counsel denied the substantive allegations, characterized the complaint as politically motivated, and announced an intention to file a counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation.

  5. Legal consequence

    Sandiganbayan issues precautionary hold-departure order against Romualdez

    Martin Romualdez cannot leave the country. The Sandiganbayan granted a precautionary hold-departure order (docketed SB26PHDO0002) in connection with the Ombudsman's plunder complaint filed two days earlier, restricting his exit pending preliminary investigation.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Romualdez has consistently denied the underlying plunder allegations and stated through counsel that he will fully cooperate with the legal process. He has characterized the prior witness testimony as "complete fabrication" and maintained that he has never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project.

  6. Legal consequence

    Court of Appeals freezes assets of Martin Romualdez, wife Yedda, and 2 daughters

    A Tamarind Road property in Forbes Park. Bank accounts. Insurance policies. Vehicles. The Court of Appeals froze all of it, naming former Speaker Martin Romualdez, his wife Tingog Sinirangan Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, their two daughters, and fraternity brother Paras, on probable cause for plunder, bribery, graft, and money laundering tied to flood-control kickbacks. The order references testimony from Christopher Esquivel and Gil Natividad Jr., two of the 18 ex-Marines witnesses who alleged delivering multi-billion-peso cash payments to Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Romualdez has repeatedly characterised the underlying allegations as "complete fabrication" and maintained he has "never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project."

  7. Official action

    Ombudsman: 35 to 45 flood-control cases active, second plunder draft in progress

    35 to 45 active cases. A 61-page first complaint already filed. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters on May 15 that a second draft, on conspiracy to commit plunder, is in progress and could pull in additional House and Senate members, with AMLC coordination underway on fund tracking.

    Cast in this event

    Denial (1)

    Romualdez has previously characterized the underlying flood-control kickback allegations as "complete fabrication" and maintained through counsel that he never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project. No new statement was issued specifically in response to the May 15 briefing.