The Office of the Ombudsman hit back against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s camp, rejecting claims that witness recantations have weakened the flood-control scam case and stressing that these reversals could even strengthen the case against him.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano blasted the Romualdez camp’s pronouncements as “very misleading,” emphasizing that earlier affidavits remain part of the evidence.
“Hindi po tama na dahil lang po may recantation, nabura na yung dati nilang sinasabi. Ang legal effect po niyan ay itatabi po yung dating affidavit doon sa bagong affidavit. Ibig po sabihin, dagdag-ebidensya po ’yan,” Clavano said.
The Ombudsman also raised red flags over the circumstances of the recantations, noting that some affiants became difficult to locate after previously appearing before the Senate, Congress, and the Ombudsman to stand by their original statements.
“May information pa tayo na nababayaran yung mga tao na ito para mag-recant. So there are more questions about the recantations than there are about the first affidavit,” Clavano said.
He revealed that investigators possess a flash drive containing photographs, videos, and screen recordings tied to the alleged payments for recantations.
Former Marine George Villalon Jr. separately alleged that witnesses were offered between ₱20 million and ₱25 million each to reverse their statements. Lawyer Levito D. Baligod has also alleged that financial offers were made to convince former security personnel to recant.
Clavano said investigators must establish whether bribery or irregularities attended the affidavits of recantation. If proven, those circumstances could bolster the investigators’ case against Romualdez.
The developments come as Romualdez faces complaints before the Ombudsman for plunder, direct bribery, indirect bribery, violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and money laundering in connection with the alleged multibillion-peso flood-control kickback scheme. Investigators have accused Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and others of involvement in the alleged accumulation of approximately ₱56 billion in ill-gotten wealth from 2022 to 2025 through the alleged diversion and misuse of public funds.
Clavano added that investigators are now looking at 28 additional witnesses on top of 14 remaining from an earlier group of 18, bringing the total he cited to 42. He stressed that the investigation is not a numbers game and that what matters is the credibility and quality of the witnesses’ testimony.
Political pressure on Romualdez has been escalating, with President Bongbong Marcos. using his latest SONA to announce that multiple cases against the disgraced former Speaker are nearing filing—and making it clear that family ties will not shield anyone from accountability. The scandal has ignited outrage across all party lines, with lawmakers demanding that those behind flood‑control corruption face prosecution and imprisonment.
The Ombudsman said the current period in Romualdez’s case expires on August 31, after which investigators are expected to submit the case for resolution. Clavano estimated that the panel could come up with a resolution within roughly 10 to 15 days afterward.
PGMN, meanwhile, has attempted to remain courageous and defiant in the face of the over 80 counts/lawsuits Romualdez has filed, fully aware that the whole thing is the former Speaker’s desperate attempt to silence the organization as he currently finds himself in the most vulnerable position of his life. Since declaring war against him two months ago, PGMN has published over 1,300 posts about Romualdez—clearly and honestly exposing him precisely for what he is: the most corrupt Filipino politician of the 21st century.
The barrage has since generated approximately 160 million views across all platforms and is now the most viral anti-corruption campaign against a single person in the history of Philippine social media.
