President Bongbong Marcos put his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, at the center of his administration’s widening flood-control corruption crackdown, saying the Office of the Ombudsman is close to filing multiple cases against him.
Speaking during his fifth State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, July 27, Marcos said contractors, senior government officials and lawmakers had already been charged and jailed as the investigation expanded.
“Meron nang mga unang nakasuhan at nakulong, mga kontratista, matataas na opisyal, pati na mga mambabatas. At dumating na tayo sa punto na, ayon sa Ombudsman, ay malapit na ang paghahain ng patong-patong na kaso laban sa dating Speaker. Masakit man sa akin ito, ngunit kailangan natin gawin ang tama,” Marcos said.
Romualdez, the president’s cousin, served as House Speaker before coming under scrutiny over irregularities in flood-control projects and government spending.
Investigators are seeking to formally charge Romualdez, former congressman Zaldy Co and several others with plunder over a ₱56-billion corruption scheme, while also moving to prevent the dissipation of billions of pesos in suspected illicit assets.
During his previous State of the Nation Address, Marcos told corrupt officials to “have some shame.” This year, he signaled that the anti-corruption drive would extend even to members of his own family.
“Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay pangulo ng Pilipinas, at ang tungkulin ko ay sa inyo, ang aking mga kapwa Pilipino,” he said.
Marcos also said all assets recovered from corrupt officials would be returned to the national treasury.
“Lahat ng mababawi mula sa mga sangkot na tiwali ay agad ibabalik sa kaban ng bayan,” he said, adding that the country’s justice system is working.
