Former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez has finally addressed the corruption allegations against him, breaking his silence in a public statement on April 21, 2026. Romualdez, who has been accused of masterminding a large-scale corruption scheme involving flood control projects, categorically denied the claims and called for transparency and accountability across all levels of government.
According to a statement released by Romualdez on his official FB page, he has cooperated fully with the legal process, submitting affidavits and documents to the Inter-Agency Committee on Investigations (ICI). He also authorized the public release of his affidavit and supporting documents to allow the Filipino people to scrutinize the evidence.
Romualdez Sets the Record Straight: Corruption Allegations
- Denial of Mastermind Role: Romualdez refuted claims that he orchestrated the alleged corruption scheme, emphasizing that the national budget process is a collective effort involving multiple branches of government, not a single individual.
- Budget Process Explained: He clarified that the budget originates from the Executive branch, undergoes deliberations in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is finalized through a bicameral conference committee. He stressed that implementation, where corruption is most likely to occur, is the responsibility of the Executive branch.
- Transparency in His District: Romualdez highlighted that his district in Tacloban has no ghost or substandard flood control projects, inviting public scrutiny of all projects associated with him.
- Call for Accountability: He urged the Ombudsman to follow the evidence and sworn testimonies, pointing out that corruption involves both budget decisions and project implementation.
Allegations of Political Targeting
Romualdez accused certain sectors of using the legal process as a political weapon against him. He claimed that individuals, including Zaldy Co, are being manipulated to construct a narrative that serves political interests. He vowed to defend himself publicly if the issue continues to be waged in the court of public opinion.
A Call for Justice
In his closing remarks, Romualdez appealed to the Ombudsman to pursue justice based on evidence rather than political convenience. He warned that he would not be a scapegoat for others’ corruption and expressed his readiness to defend his name and reputation.
For more details, the statement was released through official channels and can be accessed via Martin Romualdez Facebook Page: