Martin Romualdez ordered arrested over P7.44-billion plunder case

PROBE. Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez appears before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure on October 14, 2025. James Patrick Cruz/Rappler (1st UPDATE) The former House speaker may be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas – the designated detention center for flood control-related cases The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division issued a warrant of arrest for Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez over a P7.44-billion plunder case. Romualdez is accused of receiving kickbacks from co-accused Zaldy Co and using the funds to establish shell companies, with evidence provided by multiple witnesses. As plunder is non-bailable, Romualdez will be detained upon arrest, with the court confirming the issuance of the warrant and a hold departure order. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division issued a warrant of arrest on Monday, September 7 against Leyte 1st District Representative and former House speaker Martin Romualdez over his P7.44-billion plunder case. Plunder is non-bailable, so Romualdez will likely be held under police custody once he is arrested by the Philippine National Police or surrenders to authorities. He is also likely to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas – the designated detention center for flood control-related cases. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder case earlier on Monday against Romualdez and his co-accused: former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co, Joselyn Serenio, and Felicito Guevarra. Co is at large. Romualdez allegedly received P7.44 billion in kickbacks from Co. “Based on our investigation, Romualdez allegedly received kickbacks around 15 times from Co’s staff, from September 2022 to 2025. That’s for the P2-billion monthly quota or collections Romualdez imposed on Co,” the Ombudsman said in Filipino. “Serenio received the cash delivery in the lawmaker’s different houses and properties. Romualdez used nearly P5 billion from these kickbacks to establish shell or dummy companies like Golden Pheasant Holdings Corporation, Braavos Holdings Opc, and Valiant Consolidated Resources, Inc.,” it added. According to the Ombudsman, their case against Romualdez and co-accused stands on the evidence and testimonies from several witnesses, including former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, among others. At past 5 pm on Monday, the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division confirmed that it had issued a warrant and hold a departure order against Romualdez and fellow accused. “The issuance of a warrant of arrest signifies only that, after personally evaluating the records, the Court found probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged. Probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest exists when the facts and circumstances alleged by the prosecution would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent person to believe that an offense has been committed by the person sought to be arrested,” said the 3rd Division. Department of the Interior and Local Government chief Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla also confirmed that Romualdez’s warrant had been signed Monday afternoon. “Yes. We have confirmed that it has already been signed,” Remulla told Rappler. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading