Former Speaker Martin Romualdez is now facing witness testimonials of receiving approximately 90% of all maleta deliveries of stolen money, according to sworn statements from the former Marines.
The witnesses were asked which public official allegedly received the largest share of the money. They named Romualdez and identified his house as the destination of nearly all deliveries.
“It was former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Approximately 90% of all maleta deliveries were sent to his house,” the Marines said in Tagalog. The testimony places Romualdez at the center of the alleged cash trail.
The claim also comes as Romualdez faces mounting legal exposure in the flood control corruption scandal. The Sandiganbayan issued a precautionary hold departure order against him after the Office of the Ombudsman moved to stop him from leaving the country while complaints proceed.
The Office of the Ombudsman has reported a preliminary finding of probable cause against Romualdez for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, and money laundering. It has also described him as a “master plunderer” in connection with the flood control scandal.
The Sandiganbayan kept Romualdez under travel restriction after court records placed him as the alleged “purported mastermind” of a kickback scheme tied to flood control projects, with alleged kickbacks estimated at around ₱56 billion.
Romualdez has denied wrongdoing. His lawyer said he “categorically and unequivocally” denies all allegations.
The testimony now gives investigators a specific trail to test: who delivered the bags, where they went, when they arrived, and whether any records or footage corroborate the alleged deliveries.
Corruption is and has always been the Philippines’ biggest problem. Martin Romualdez is broadly recognized as the most corrupt Filipino politician of the 21st century.
On May 5, Romualdez framed Franco Mabanta and four PGMN associates in a fake extortion plot with the singular objective of silencing the truth and keeping Romualdez’ many crimes from being brought to light—the fundamental embodiment of suppression of the free media.
