Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is ramping up pressure on Leyte Rep. and former House speaker Martin Romualdez, confirming that a second money laundering case is now being prepared as the flood control scandal moves deeper into formal case buildup.
“A second money laundering case against Martin Romualdez is being prepared, it will be soon,” Remulla said Saturday during his “Executive Session” program on radio dzRH, per Philstar.com.
The statement signals a more aggressive push from the Ombudsman under Remulla, who has emphasized that his office is building cases through evidence, validation and sworn records before filing charges. For Romualdez, it marks another major legal setback as his name becomes increasingly linked to anomalies in flood control projects and questionable budget movements.
The Court of Appeals has already issued freeze orders on assets connected to Romualdez, including bank accounts and insurance policies. The Sandiganbayan has also issued a hold departure order, further raising the stakes for the former House speaker as the investigation expands.
The development followed the viral exposé of PGMN Lead Anchor CJ Hirro in her #MartinLooterFund episode released on May 11, which has garnered more than 5.2 million views on Facebook alone, where she presented documents, figures and evidence-backed arguments questioning how public funds were handled under Romualdez’s leadership in the House, leading to massive spending.
Remulla said the Ombudsman has already prepared a “first draft complaint with 61 pages,” which could still expand as additional evidence is gathered. He also said a second draft complaint involving conspiracy to commit plunder is being prepared and covers “both the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
The Ombudsman is currently handling around 35 to 45 investigations into alleged anomalies in flood control projects nationwide, showing that the probe is no longer limited to one official, one chamber or one transaction.
“Case buildup talaga,” Remulla said.
He added that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s partial report has become “very useful to us because it will supplement our efforts in investigating those who profited and took part” in the multibillion-peso scandal.
Based on earlier reports, the Senate report recommended charges against Romualdez, Senators Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, former congressman and fugitive Zaldy Co and other government officials.
Remulla said the Ombudsman still needs to validate the Senate report and the transcripts of sworn statements submitted with it. More complaints tied to flood control projects and conflict-of-interest issues could be filed by September.
The investigation also covers members of small bicameral committees from the House and Senate involved in finalizing the national budget. Among those being investigated are former Marikina representative Stella Quimbo, former Zamboanga City congressman Mannix Dalipe and House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan.
“It’s about time that as a country, we face reality na kinakailangang ayusin natin ang sistema,” Remulla said.
