Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco testified before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez wielded enough political power to influence some senators, as the court heard his account of the corruption involving the former lawmaker.
During the proceedings, Tiangco disputed the defense’s claim that Romualdez had no influence over members of the Senate, telling the court that the former House Speaker exercised sway over certain senators.
Although Tiangco did not name the senators involved, his allegation points to Romualdez’s political reach beyond the House of Representatives, particularly in the approval of the national budget, which requires the consent of both chambers of Congress.
The House of Representatives and the Senate are separate but co-equal chambers of Congress, each maintaining its own members, leadership, committees and legislative procedures. Under Article VI, Section 24 of the Constitution, appropriation bills must originate in the House, while the Senate is empowered to propose or agree to amendments.
Both chambers review and pass their respective versions of the national budget before a bicameral conference committee works to resolve their differences. The reconciled measure must then be approved by both chambers before it can be forwarded to the President.
In October, the Supreme Court declared the 2024 and 2025 national budgets unconstitutional, along with certain provisions of the 2026 national budget, all of which were passed during Romualdez’s tenure as House Speaker. The 2025 budget has also been described as the “most corrupt” budget of all time.
During the same proceedings, he told the court that the late former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral had sent him an Excel file dated March 26, 2025, listing Romualdez as the proponent of projects worth ₱27.47 billion.
Romualdez is facing a ₱7.44-billion plunder case involving an alleged kickback scheme tied to government infrastructure projects. The accusations remain subject to ongoing judicial proceedings.
