Ombudsman Boying Remulla Asked about Former Speaker Martin Romualdez over Flood Control Accusations
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – The former House Speaker may face flood control charges in 6 to 9 months according to Ombudsman Boying Remulla.
Several senators and congressmen were tagged in the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the Philippines. The issue has brought thousands of Filipinos on the streets last September 21 for the “Trillion Peso March” to protest against corruption in the country.
Then-House Speaker Romualdez was one of the congressmen who were accused of allegedly receiving kickbacks from the flood control projects of the government. The presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman denied the accusations.
Amid the issue, President Bongbong Marcos assured that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and his allies will not be spared from the flood control probe. The then-House Speaker stepped down from the lead of the House of Representatives amid the accusations.
According to former Speaker Martin Romualdez, he wants the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to be able to fully and freely implement their mandate to investigate without undue influence so he resigned from the position. He appeared before the ICI and assured that he will extend any help needed for the fast resolution of the issue.
However, recently, resigned House member Zaldy Co accused former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Pres. Bongbong Marcos of allegedly masterminding a P100 billion budget insertion in the 2025 budget. According to him, Marcos Jr. and Romualdez allegedly received a P56 billion kickback from the fund inserted.
The first batch of flood control charges were filed. Currently, countless Filipinos call for charges against the former Speaker. Recently, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla was asked if flood control raps will be filed against the former Speaker.
Based on a report on GMA News, Ombudsman Boying Remulla assured that flood control charges will be filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Answering the question of economist and U.P. professor Winnie Monsod in a flood control controversy forum, he claimed that charges will be filed in six (6) to nine (9) months.
According to the Ombudsman, they are looking at other angles and they will have to go and look at the evidence “with a specific violation of the law”. Based on the report, he assured that he will not file a lousy case as the chief graft-buster of the country.
“I’ve discussed even this morning with my people. I’ve discussed with certain politicians from the House who are not with him. I just gave them an idea of what can be, what we are not getting about,” Remulla said.
Previously, presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos claimed that she allegedly heard that former Speaker Martin Romualdez will be a state witness.