MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine House Speaker Martin Romualdez has been arrested after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant in a ₱7.44 billion plunder case involving alleged kickbacks from flood-control, infrastructure and other government projects.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the arrest warrant on September 7, after the Office of the Ombudsman filed criminal charges against Romualdez and three other respondents. The court said it found probable cause after examining the Ombudsman’s resolution, supporting documents and case records.
Authorities served the warrant at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, where Romualdez was receiving treatment following a cardiovascular problem.
The court’s finding of probable cause permits the criminal proceedings to proceed but does not establish Romualdez’s guilt. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
Arrest Follows Ombudsman Filing
The arrest came after a rapid sequence of legal actions on September 7.
The Ombudsman filed the ₱7.44 billion plunder case earlier in the day, alleging that Romualdez and the other respondents were involved in kickback arrangements connected to flood-control, infrastructure and other public projects.
The Sandiganbayan then reviewed the filing and issued warrants after determining that probable cause existed.
The case names former lawmaker Zaldy Co, Romualdez aide Joselyn Tragua Serenio and businessman Felicito Cristobal Guevarra as co-respondents.
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Romualdez Remains Under Medical Supervision
Romualdez was arrested at Cardinal Santos Medical Center rather than at his residence or congressional office.
He had been confined at the hospital after suffering what Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla described as a cardiovascular event. Police were deployed at the facility while authorities arranged enforcement of the warrant.
Remulla said Romualdez was being treated as a person deprived of liberty while remaining under medical supervision.
His custody arrangements therefore remain linked to his medical treatment as the criminal proceedings move forward.
Case Centers on Alleged ₱7.44 Billion Kickbacks
The amount cited in the Ombudsman’s filing is ₱7.44 billion.
Investigators allege that public funds were diverted through a kickback system involving government officials and private individuals in connection with flood-control, infrastructure and other government projects.
The allegations form part of a broader investigation into the handling of public infrastructure spending, including how projects were selected, funded, awarded and implemented.
Romualdez, Co, Serenio and Guevarra now face the same criminal case, although their individual proceedings may develop differently depending on their locations, custody arrangements and subsequent court actions.
Probable Cause Is Not a Finding of Guilt
The Sandiganbayan’s decision to issue arrest warrants means the court found sufficient basis at this stage for the criminal proceedings to continue.
It does not constitute a conviction or a judicial finding that the allegations are true.
Romualdez remains entitled to contest the charges through the judicial process, while prosecutors must establish the elements of plunder and prove their allegations in court.
The same legal process applies to the other respondents named in the case.
Flood-Control Investigation Moves Into Criminal Proceedings
The case represents a new stage in the wider investigation into alleged corruption involving Philippine flood-control spending.
The investigation has focused on allegations surrounding government projects and alleged illicit payments involving politicians, officials and private individuals.
The Ombudsman’s filing against Romualdez moves the matter beyond investigation and administrative scrutiny into formal criminal proceedings before the Sandiganbayan.
The court process will now determine whether the allegations can be substantiated against the respondents.
Arrest Puts Political Significance Under Court Review
Romualdez served as House speaker from 2022 until his resignation in September 2025 amid controversy surrounding the flood-control scandal.
He remains a member of the House of Representatives representing Leyte’s first district.
His arrest brings a prominent political figure directly into the criminal proceedings stemming from the flood-control investigation. Romualdez is also a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., giving the case added political significance as the administration faces pressure over the handling of the broader controversy.
The criminal case, however, will be determined through the judicial process rather than by the political relationship between the respondents and government officials.
Four Respondents Face Arrest Warrants
The Sandiganbayan also issued arrest warrants for Co, Serenio and Guevarra after finding probable cause based on the Ombudsman’s submission.
Their custody and subsequent court proceedings may occur under different circumstances depending on where they are located and how the warrants are enforced.
The case against all four respondents remains at the criminal-proceeding stage. Further court actions will determine how the charges advance.
Case Enters Formal Court Phase
The arrest marks a significant institutional development in the flood-control controversy.
The Ombudsman’s filing and the Sandiganbayan’s probable-cause determination have moved the allegations involving Romualdez and the three other respondents into the formal criminal court process.
The central issue now is whether prosecutors can establish the alleged kickback arrangements and satisfy the legal requirements for a plunder conviction. Until that process is completed, the allegations against the respondents remain unproven.
Reporting Credit: Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines — official anti-graft investigation and September 7, 2026 filing of the ₱7.44 billion plunder case against Romualdez and three co-respondents concerning alleged kickbacks from flood-control, infrastructure and other government projects; Sandiganbayan Third Division — judicial determination of probable cause and issuance of warrants of arrest based on the Ombudsman’s resolution, supporting documents and case records; Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) — enforcement of the Sandiganbayan arrest warrant against Romualdez at Cardinal Santos Medical Center; Department of the Interior and Local Government — official account of Romualdez’s custody status and hospital confinement following his medical episode.
