Sandiganbayan suspends Martin Romualdez over plunder case

ARRAIGNMENT. Former House speaker Martin Romualdez during his arraignment on September 16, 2026.

Aaron Favila/AP/Sandiganbayan pool

'The court issued a resolution ordering the suspension pendente lite of former speaker Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez for a period of 90 days from receipt of the resolution,' says the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan 3rd Division ordered the suspension of former speaker Martin Romualdez due to his plunder case related to the flood control scandal.

“The court issued a resolution ordering the suspension pendente lite of former speaker Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez for a period of 90 days from receipt of the resolution. The resolution orders the former speaker to cease and desist from the functions of his office or any other office,” 3rd Division Executive Clerk Dennis Pulma said on Tuesday, November 10.

Romualdez is facing plunder, a non-bailable offense, due to alleged P7.44-billion in kickbacks from government projects.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder charge against him with the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on September 7. On the same day, the 3rd Division issued a warrant of arrest against Romualdez and ordered his detention.

The lawmaker, a first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been detained in the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas since September 14.

Under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7080 or the Plunder Law, any public officer charged with the case “whatever stage of execution and mode of participation, is pending in court, shall be suspended from office.”

Romualdez is Leyte 1st District representative – Rappler.com