Politics · Philippines Bureau
Romualdez arrested on plunder charges over alleged kickback scheme
Former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte representative Martin Romualdez has been arrested at a hospital following criminal charges before the anti-graft court. He and former Ako Bicol representative Elizaldy Co face allegations of receiving more than 7 billion pesos in kickbacks from government contracts.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Martin Romualdez, the sitting representative for Leyte's first district and former Speaker of the House, was taken into custody on Monday at a medical facility hours after being charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan.
Romualdez and Co, the former representative of Ako Bicol, were accused of unlawfully receiving kickbacks exceeding 7 billion pesos allegedly generated through government projects spanning 2022 to 2025. The charges were filed before the anti-graft court, marking the latest development in an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities.
The arrest was confirmed by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who provided updates to members of the press regarding the operation. The timing of the apprehension at a hospital underscores the authorities' determination to enforce the court's orders regardless of the circumstances surrounding the accused.
The plunder case represents one of the most significant accusations against a sitting member of Congress in recent years. Romualdez, a prominent political figure with deep family connections to the national political establishment, has consistently denied wrongdoing in previous matters.