Philippine lawmaker pleads not guilty to taking kickbacks in flood control projects
The anti-graft court said the case will proceed to trial after Romualdez denied allegations that he received kickbacks in the flood control scheme.
- On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez pleaded not guilty to plunder charges involving the misuse of 7.4 billion pesos in public funds related to flood control projects.
- Nearly 10,000 flood control projects worth more than $9 billion came under scrutiny after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos described the alleged corruption as "horrible" when exposing the scandal last year.
- Authorities arrested Romualdez last week while hospitalized, then transferred him to the New Quezon City Jail after doctors deemed him stable enough for detention within the week.
- With the not-guilty plea entered, the case moves to trial; Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced additional charges, including money laundering, will be filed against Romualdez.
- The graft scandal has paralyzed government spending and dragged Philippine economic growth to its weakest pace since 2009, prompting ongoing investigations into other powerful legislators and executives.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Associated Press News
Philippine lawmaker pleads not guilty to taking kickbacks in flood control projects
A Philippine lawmaker and former speaker of the House of Representatives is denying allegations he pocketed millions of dollars in kickbacks from flood control projects.
ABS-CBN
The Manila TimesRomualdez pleads not guilty to plunder
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez entered a not guilty plea for his plunder case over an alleged P7.4-billion government infrastructure kickback scheme.
Ex-speaker Romualdez, Nagpasok ng Not Guilty Plea sa arraignment ng kasong Plunder
Not guilty ang naging plea ni dating House Speaker at Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez sa kinakaharap na ₱7.44-billion plunder case sa Sandiganbayan. Isinagawa ngayong Miyerkules ang arraignment ni Romualdez sa Sandiganbayan Third Division, kung saan pinayagan siyang dumalo sa pamamagitan ng video conference mula sa Quezon City Jail–Male Dormitory sa Payatas. Kaugnay ang kaso […]
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