The Office of the Ombudsman is preparing the filing of a "grand case" against former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez for conspiracy to defraud the national treasury and money laundering, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Two Additional Cases Being Prepared
In a press conference, Remulla stated that two additional cases are being prepared against Romualdez. "We are preparing two more cases regarding that, another money laundering case, a heavy one, and the grandest case of them all, conspiracy to defraud the treasury through the budget," he said in Filipino. He emphasized the complexity of the case, noting that this would be the first of its kind in Philippine history, requiring careful preparation of every premise.
Accusations of Anomalous Budget Insertions
Romualdez is among those accused of involvement in an anomalous budget insertion scheme involving multi-billion-peso flood control funds. Remulla revealed that gathering evidence against Romualdez has been challenging due to the alleged refusal of the Committee Secretariat of the House Committee on Appropriations to cooperate.
Freeze Orders and Travel Restrictions
The Ombudsman earlier confirmed that Romualdez was covered by a freeze order issued by the Court of Appeals, which included 25 bank accounts and 10 insurance policies linked to him. Additionally, the Sandiganbayan's seventh division issued a precautionary hold departure order against Romualdez in April, preventing him from traveling abroad for a medical checkup.
Romualdez Seeks Inhibition of Ombudsman
Romualdez is seeking the inhibition of the Office of the Ombudsman from any investigation against him, claiming that its officials have made "prejudgments" about his case. The Ombudsman continues to pursue the investigation despite these challenges.
