The Office of the Ombudsman announced that 42 witnesses will be used in the flood‑control case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, outnumbering the 25 witnesses on his side and stressing that these 42 carry stronger, more credible testimony.
In an Aug. 28 press conference, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said investigators are continuing to build the complaint over the ₱56‑billion flood‑control scheme, with Romualdez identified as the mastermind.
“May 25 sila, may 42 kami, but that’s not the point. What we’re trying to find, it’s not yung pataasan ng number. Ang gusto namin malinawan dito ay quality po ng sinasabi ng mga tao,” Clavano explained.
The Ombudsman clarified that the 42 witnesses include 28 new ones plus 14 remaining from the original group under investigation.
This development comes as Romualdez faces a supplemental complaint alleging plunder, graft, bribery, and money laundering tied to the misuse of flood‑control funds. Investigators are also examining a broader pattern of irregularities in the handling of public money under the 2025 budget.
Witness recantations remain a flashpoint after several individuals withdrew or reversed earlier statements. Clavano said investigators are probing the circumstances, including reports that some witnesses were paid to recant.
“May information pa tayo na nababayaran po yung mga tao na ito para mag‑recant,” Clavano revealed.
Former Marine George Villalon Jr. alleged witnesses were offered ₱20 million to ₱25 million each to recant, while lawyer Levito D. Baligod disclosed evidence of an ₱8‑million offer tied to efforts to reverse testimony.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla has said Romualdez’s camp orchestrated the reversals, while Malacañang demanded investigators unmask the “masterminds” behind the scheme.
Authorities also warned that witnesses who executed recantations could face legal consequences if their new statements are proven false, including possible perjury charges.
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.
PGMN 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.
