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ABOUT THE OMBUDSMAN ORDER AGAINST MARTIN ROMUALDEZ
Romualdez has been ordered to answer serious flood-control allegations under oath, but no court has ruled on the accusations.
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered former House speaker and current Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, along with other respondents, to file counter-affidavits within 15 days from receiving the order.
The complaints involve possible plunder, graft, bribery, and money laundering tied to the flood-control controversy. Ombudsman investigators have also cited an alleged ₱56 billion in ill-gotten wealth from 2022 to 2025.
Those are still allegations. The order does not mean Romualdez has been charged in court, found liable, or found guilty.
What it does mean is that he must now answer the complaint under oath. He may challenge witness statements, question documents, present his own records, and argue that the evidence is weak or wrong.
The next major step will come after the Ombudsman studies the complaint, the counter-affidavits, and any replies. That is when investigators will decide which accusations should move forward and which should be dismissed.
1
THE ORDER GIVES ROMUALDEZ 15 DAYS TO ANSWER
The 15-day period begins when Romualdez receives the order, not when the news becomes public. The order should come with the complaint and the evidence submitted against him.
His counter-affidavit is his formal answer. It may include sworn statements, documents, and legal arguments meant to challenge the accusations.
The Ombudsman may also ask questions or call a hearing if parts of the record need clarification. If Romualdez does not file an answer, investigators may still decide the case using the complaint and the evidence already submitted.
WHAT TO WATCH
The first date to confirm is when Romualdez received the order because that starts the 15-day count. The public should also watch for any filing from his lawyers that explains which evidence they dispute and what records they are presenting in response.
2
THE ₱56 BILLION FIGURE HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN
Ombudsman investigators recommended complaints involving plunder, graft, bribery, and money laundering. They said the alleged scheme involved connected transactions through which public funds were diverted and improper financial benefits were received.
They placed the alleged ill-gotten wealth at around ₱56 billion. The full complaint and the records behind that figure have not been released to the public.
Another number, around ₱100 billion, has also appeared in reports about contracts awarded to companies linked to former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co. That figure refers to the reported value of contracts, while the ₱56 billion refers to wealth investigators say may have been obtained through the alleged scheme.
The two numbers describe different things and should not be treated as the same amount.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure earlier sent information involving Romualdez to the Ombudsman. The commission made clear that its referral was for further investigation and was not a finding that he was guilty or liable.
Romualdez has denied involvement in the alleged kickback scheme. His lawyers have said there is no credible evidence connecting him to ghost or substandard flood-control projects.
WHAT TO WATCH
The Ombudsman will need to show how it arrived at the ₱56 billion figure and which projects, payments, witnesses, and financial records support it. Readers should also check if the final resolution clearly separates contract value from the amount allegedly diverted or received.
3
THE OMBUDSMAN MUST STUDY THE DEFENSE BEFORE IT CAN FILE A CASE
After the respondents submit their counter-affidavits, the complainant may reply. Investigators may also ask for more information if the record is incomplete.
The Ombudsman will then issue a resolution. That document should explain which accusations have enough evidence to move forward and which do not.
If the Ombudsman decides to prosecute, it will prepare and file an Information in the proper court. An Information is the formal document that starts the criminal case.
The court will still conduct its own review. A judge may issue a warrant, ask prosecutors for more evidence, or dismiss a charge if the court finds no basis to proceed.
Even after a case is filed, guilt has not been decided. Prosecutors must still prove the charges in court, and the accused may challenge the evidence and present a defense.
WHAT TO WATCH
The Ombudsman’s resolution should discuss each accusation and each respondent separately. The clearest sign that the case has moved beyond investigation will be the filing of an Information in court, not another press statement or recommendation.
4
THE OMBUDSMAN CAN PURSUE CRIMINAL CASES, BUT ITS POWER HAS LIMITS
The Office of the Ombudsman may investigate and prosecute criminal offenses involving public officials. It may also handle administrative cases against many government employees and officials.
Romualdez is in a different position because he remains a member of the House of Representatives. Republic Act No. 6770 excludes Members of Congress from the Ombudsman’s disciplinary authority.
That means the Ombudsman may investigate him and file criminal charges if the evidence supports prosecution. It cannot remove him from his congressional seat through an administrative case.
Discipline against a House member belongs to the House of Representatives under the Constitution and its own rules. Other respondents may still face both criminal and administrative cases, depending on their positions and the accusations against them.
WHAT TO WATCH
The full respondent list will show who may face criminal cases, administrative cases, or both. Romualdez’s status as a current House member limits the administrative penalties the Ombudsman may impose against him, but it does not block a criminal investigation.
5
THE INHIBITION REQUEST DID NOT STOP THE CASE
Romualdez’s lawyers asked Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla in April to step away from the investigation. They argued that public statements from Remulla and other Ombudsman officials created the appearance that Romualdez had already been judged.
Remulla rejected the call and said pursuing possible corruption was part of his duty. No formal written ruling on the request has been made public.
The investigation continued, and the counter-affidavit order was issued. Romualdez’s lawyers may still raise the same objection in later filings or before the courts.
The Ombudsman’s final resolution will therefore need to show that investigators considered the defense evidence and based their conclusions on the case record.
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch for any written ruling on the inhibition request and for signs that Romualdez renews the objection after the resolution is released. The strength of the Ombudsman’s reasoning will also be important because it must answer the defense, not simply repeat earlier accusations.
BOTTOM LINE
The order against Romualdez is serious because he must now answer a formal complaint under oath. It is still one step in a longer process, and no court has yet ruled on the accusations. The central question is whether investigators can connect the ₱56 billion allegation to named projects, financial records, witnesses, recipients, and acts that can be proved in court.
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