Romualdez suspended for 90 days

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is charged with plunder over allegations that he received P7.44 billion in kickbacks from government infrastructure projects funded under the national budgets from 2022 to 2025.

In a resolution, the antigraft court directed Romualdez “to cease and desist from the functions of his office or any other office,” Clerk of Court Dennis Pulma told reporters.

“[The] court also has ordered the Clerk of Court to furnish a copy of the resolution to the Speaker of the House through the Office of the Secretary General and also to request from the said office or offices to inform the court of any action taken within a period of five days from receipt of the resolution,” he said.

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The Office of the Ombudsman, which filed the plunder case against Romualdez, had accused him of using his influence as the Speaker at the time to manipulate the national budget to his advantage. Romualdez, however, denied the allegation, saying he did not have “functional control” over the whole budget approval process.

Earlier on Tuesday, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco told the Sandiganbayan Third Division that House lawmakers had to pay a 20 percent “tariff” or “commission” to get more funding for their projects in the chamber’s version of the 2025 national budget and 2025 General Appropriations Act.

READ: Over P27-B projects allegedly inserted for Romualdez – witness

Tiangco, however, clarified that it was only his “understanding” that Romualdez had known and authorized the collection of commissions.

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Testifying as a witness at the bail hearing of Romualdez, who is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, Tiangco confirmed to defense attorney Thea Daep during cross-examination that he heard about the alleged practice during House deliberations on last year’s budget.

According to Tiangco, when he would approach then Speaker Romualdez to request additional funding or amendments in the budget, the latter would refer him to Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, the House appropriations committee chair at the time.

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“But with regard to this P200 million request that you mentioned, you did not go directly to accused Romualdez, who is your cousin by affiliation … neither did you go directly to Zaldy Co, correct?” Daep asked Tiangco, citing his judicial affidavit.

‘Family discount’

“The reason you did this … is because you had been hearing at that time about the 20-percent commission for additional funding,” she said, with Tiangco confirming the information.

He also affirmed other details in his affidavit, including the time Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales told him that instead of 20 percent, the commission from his requested funding would be reduced to 10 percent, calling it a “family discount.”

Tiangco also noted that on Nov. 24, 2024, he met with Romualdez and President Marcos at Bahay Pangulo, where the President “raised concerns about funding that had been removed from the budget,” including allocations for foreign-assisted flagship projects and maintenance projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Tiangco recalled that Marcos told Romualdez: “You are taking the funds for big projects.”

“Romualdez then responded that whatever the President wanted would be restored in the bicameral conference process,” the Navotas lawmaker said.

Later on, Tiangco said Romualdez called him to his office on Dec. 2, 2024, for a private discussion about the 20-percent commission.

“According to you, you were disappointed because when you told him about this, you were disappointed because his response was, ‘You should have just gone straight to me,’” Daep said.

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“And because of that statement, and I quote, ‘It reinforced your understanding that Zaldy Co had been selling projects and demanding commission within the Speaker’s knowledge and political authority,’” she added. /cb