Bribery & corruptionMisused public fundsOversight & ethics enforcement
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez Arrested on ₱7.44-Billion Plunder Charge Over Alleged Flood-Control Kickbacks; Pleads Not Guilty
Confidence: Corroborated · 8 sourcesPhilippines · Sep 22, 2026
Subject of this story
Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Member, House of Representatives, Leyte 1st District (former Speaker)
Zaldy Co, Former Representative, Ako Bicol Party-List
Also named
Oversight
Sandiganbayan
Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines
What happened
The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on September 7, 2026, after the Ombudsman charged him, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and others with plunder and graft over an alleged scheme collecting at least ₱7.44 billion in kickbacks from flood-control and other infrastructure contracts funded from the 2022-2025 national budgets. Romualdez, arrested at a San Juan hospital, was ordered held without bail and pleaded not guilty at his September 16, 2026 arraignment.
By the numbers (2)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Figures
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The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the P7.44-billion flood-control plunder case; the court said the probable-cause finding does not determine guilt.$130.2M
1 source
- Philstar
The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of former Speaker Martin Romualdez in the P7.44-billion flood-control plunder case.
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The Office of the Ombudsman filed a P7.44-billion plunder case on September 7, 2026 against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and three others over alleged kickbacks from flood-control and other government projects.
1 source
- The Philippine Star
The Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case on September 7, 2026 accusing former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and three others of receiving kickbacks
Sources (8)
PhilstarThe Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of former Speaker Martin Romualdez in the P7.44-billion flood-control plunder case.
The Washington PostRomualdez pleaded not guilty to allegations he pocketed kickbacks from flood control projects, many of which were never built.
Philippine Canadian InquirerMartin Romualdez was arrested over the P7.4 billion flood control plunder case following a Sandiganbayan warrant.
The Philippine StarThe Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case on September 7, 2026 accusing former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and three others of receiving kickbacks; the Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants.
Daily TribuneThe Ombudsman received a partial Senate Blue Ribbon report on May 12, 2026 recommending charges against several officials; all individuals named have denied involvement.
The Philippine StarNo incumbent or former senators were charged by year-end ... Remulla had stated in November that senators Escudero, Estrada and Villanueva were among those expected to be charged by December.
Response
Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
Statement given
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
Zaldy Co
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.