Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Senate President Chiz Escudero and presidential cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, may soon face plunder cases in connection with the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed on Monday, April 6.
“The former senate president and the former speaker will be subjected to a case of plunder very soon,” Remulla said in a press briefing, adding that the case may be filed in May.
The ombudsman said the case stems from the alleged conspiracy of Romualdez and Escudero in the budgetary process and the implementation of anomalous flood control projects.
Remulla said his office is reviewing the 2024 and 2025 budget process, but investigation may cover up to the previous administration, in particular the term of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco from 2020 to 2022.
“It’s actually the way that the budget was passed upon by the two houses and how many things happened to have been implemented because of that,” he said.
The ombudsman said Escudero and Romualdez are some of the high-ranking officials in the cases by the ombudsman.
“Marami pang iba kasi nga marami pang ibang miyembro ng dalawang bahay na maaring tamaan din ng mga kaso ng plunder sa aming hinahanda ngayon,” Remulla said.
[Translation: There are many others because many more members of both Houses could also be hit with plunder cases that we are currently preparing.]
In 2025, the then Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommended further investigation for Escudero and Romualdez and other members of Congress tagged in the flood control mess.
Both lawmakers were alleged recipients of huge kickbacks from infrastructure deals – claims they have repeatedly denied.
Romualdez’s camp said in a statement the Leyte lawmaker will cooperate with authorities.
“We trust that the ombudsman will fully adhere to the circular that he instituted and signed as then Secretary of the Department of Justice, that DOJ prosecutors should only pursue cases with ‘reasonable certainty of conviction,” Ade Fajardo, lawyer and spokesman for Romualdez said.
“We remain confident that these matters will be resolved based on evidence and due process—not politics or speculation,” he added.
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to Escudero’s office.
