Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is now under arrest as the Sandiganbayan moves forward with the ₱7.4-billion non-bailable plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman over the flood control scandal. The case marks the biggest legal blow yet against the former House Speaker, whom the Ombudsman identified as the mastermind behind the ₱56-billion controversy.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco detailed what he described as the system behind the flood control controversy, saying it began during the budget process before projects reached bidding and implementation. He claimed the practice was not limited to the 2025 budget, saying he observed the system after returning to Congress in 2022, where projects were allegedly secured through percentage payments.
According to Tiangco, the arrangement happened once projects entered the House General Appropriations Bill (HGAB) or the General Appropriations Act (GAA), meaning payments were allegedly settled before implementation.
“Hindi na kailangan umabot doon sa implementasyon. Ang usapan doon is, basta’t napasok doon sa HGAB o basta’t napasok doon sa GAA, bayaran mo na yung twenty percent kay Zaldy Co,” Tiangco said.
Tiangco clarified that the arrangement was not always fixed at 20%. He said some individuals acted as middlemen, securing projects at one percentage and passing them on at a higher rate. He cited an example where someone could acquire a project at 20% and offer it to another party at 30%, earning the difference without directly implementing the project.
He also claimed the practice involved not only lawmakers but contractors seeking projects.
“Hindi lang ’yan congressman; maraming contractors diyan na namimili. So both ways ’yan,” Tiangco said.
Asked about the alleged quota involving former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and Romualdez, Tiangco said he could not speak about their exact arrangement. However, he claimed Co could not have carried out such a system without Romualdez knowing about it.
“Kung ano yung quota at usapan nila ni Zaldy, ang masasabi ko lang is hindi magagawa ito ni Zaldy na hindi alam ni dating Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Tiangco said.
Tiangco said his account was consistent with testimonies from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara, whom he cited in discussing how project allocations were allegedly handled before implementation.
He also recalled a conversation with Romualdez where he said the former Speaker asked why such practices were happening. Tiangco said he told Romualdez that Co was asking for a percentage from projects but refused to participate because he did not want to be involved in an arrangement requiring payments from allocations.
Tiangco said his statements were not meant to seek exemption from the system but to explain why he believed the practice existed. His claims add to the continuing investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, with the matters still subject to verification and legal proceedings.
Tiangco also expressed support for Ombudsman Boying Remulla, whom he said he had known for more than 20 years. He praised the Ombudsman’s leadership and said the investigation showed the office did not give in to pressure while pursuing accountability.
Romualdez faces jail time over the non‑bailable plunder case, and Ombudsman Boying Remulla has already warned: more corruption charges are coming.
The arrest is a victory for the Filipino people, long left to endure nature’s wrath while flood‑control projects meant to protect them were nonexistent or substandard—failures that left 9.4 million affected and claimed 39 lives in the latest heavy rains.
The plunder charge against Romualdez has been raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s 3rd Division, led by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno—the same division that once granted Bong Revilla, Jr. bail after he posted a ₱1‑million bond in his flood‑control malversation case. The country will be watching closely. Every Filipino knows Romualdez’s crimes, and the people will erupt in fury if justice is denied.
