Philippine Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Lawmaker Martin Romualdez in P7.44-Billion Plunder Case
Arrest Warrant Issued
The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division issued a warrant of arrest on Monday, September 7 against Leyte 1st District Representative and former House speaker Martin Romualdez over his P7.44-billion plunder case.[1] Plunder is non-bailable, so Romualdez will likely be held under police custody once he is arrested by the Philippine National Police or surrenders to authorities.[1] He is also likely to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas – the designated detention center for flood control-related cases.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] Department of the Interior and Local Government chief Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla also confirmed that Romualdez’s warrant had been signed Monday afternoon.[1] Philippine prosecutors filed a criminal charge on Monday against a lawmaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr over his alleged involvement in a massive corruption scandal involving bogus flood-control projects.[2]
Details of Alleged Kickback Scheme
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.[1] Co is at large.[1] Romualdez allegedly received P7.44 billion in kickbacks from Co.[1] Based on the investigation, Romualdez allegedly received kickbacks around 15 times from Co’s staff, from September 2022 to 2025.[1] That’s for the P2-billion monthly quota or collections Romualdez imposed on Co, the Ombudsman said in Filipino.[1] Serenio received the cash delivery in the lawmaker’s different houses and properties.[1] On Monday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the plunder case against Martin Romualdez involved a total of 7.4 billion pesos in alleged bribes, anomalous budget insertions and project allocations.[2] Investigators earlier alleged that Romualdez, former lawmaker Elizaldy Co and other personalities conspired to unlawfully accumulate 56 billion pesos in ill-gotten wealth from public funds.[2]
Use of Funds and Shell Companies
Romualdez 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.[1] The case came more than a year after Marcos put the so-called “ghost” infrastructure projects, believed to have cost Filipino taxpayers billions of dollars, centre stage in a public address.[2] Several construction firm owners, government officials and politicians have been accused of pocketing funds from the projects.[2]
Evidence and Witnesses
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 undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, among others.[1] The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division issued a warrant of arrest for Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez over a P7.44-billion plunder case.[1] Romualdez is accused of receiving kickbacks from co-accused Zaldy Co and using the funds to establish shell companies, with evidence provided by multiple witnesses.[1]
Background on Scandal
Philippine prosecutors filed a criminal charge on Monday against a lawmaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr over his alleged involvement in a massive corruption scandal involving bogus flood-control projects.[2] The case came more than a year after Marcos put the so-called “ghost” infrastructure projects, believed to have cost Filipino taxpayers billions of dollars, centre stage in a public address.[2] Several construction firm owners, government officials and politicians have been accused of pocketing funds from the projects.[2] On Monday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the plunder case against Martin Romualdez, the Philippine president’s congressman cousin, involved a total of 7.4 billion pesos in alleged bribes, anomalous budget insertions and project allocations.[2] Investigators earlier alleged that Romualdez, former lawmaker Elizaldy Co and other personalities conspired to unlawfully accumulate 56 billion pesos in ill-gotten wealth from public funds.[2]
Next Steps and Reactions
Plunder is non-bailable, so Romualdez will likely be held under police custody once he is arrested by the Philippine National Police or surrenders to authorities.[1] He is also likely to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas – the designated detention center for flood control-related cases.[1] The Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder case earlier on Monday against Romualdez and his co-accused.[1] 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.[1] Department of the Interior and Local Government chief Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla also confirmed that Romualdez’s warrant had been signed Monday afternoon.[1] Romualdez has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.[2]
What to watch next: The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division confirmed probable cause after evaluating records, and officials including Remulla verified the signed warrant while the Ombudsman outlined the kickback details based on witness testimonies.
