Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760417618376cropped-viber_image_2025-10-14_12-34-18-086.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rep. Martin Romualdez attends Tuesday&#x27;s hearing at the ICI. Photo courtesy of the ICI</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE) </strong>— Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the former House Speaker, on Tuesday attended for the first time a hearing of of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which was tasked to investigate the corruption in flood control projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/-sarswela-ni-martin-escudero-tags-ex-speaker-romualdez-in-flood-control-mess-1604">&#x27;Sarswela ni Martin&#x27;: Escudero tags ex-Speaker Romualdez in flood control mess</a></div><p>Romualdez arrived before 10 a.m.</p><p>Following the hearing, Romualdez said he is grateful for the opportunity to share his &quot;personal knowledge on the budget process&quot; as a former Speaker of the House and member of the Bicameral Conference Committee.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17604109605591760410484224092.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the former House Speaker, on Tuesday attended for the first time a hearing of of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>&quot;I&#x27;m glad to have shared any and all personal knowledge and information to the ICI because I want to help the ICI in its investigation. I want to support the investigation, the fact-finding, to resolve the issues surrounding the concerns of the ICI,&quot; he said.</p><p>The former Speaker added that he is &quot;ready to come back&quot; to the commission should he be invited again.</p><p>&quot;If I can share more information, I will do so,&quot; said Romualdez.</p><p>Romualdez was tagged in the alleged kickback scheme in flood control projects, along with former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who was the alleged mastermind.</p><p>Co, who was also invited on Tuesday&#x27;s ICI hearing, has yet to appear.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/lawmakers-deny-discaya-corruption-claims-in-flood-control-mess-1217">Romualdez, lawmakers deny &#x27;false, malicious&#x27; Discaya corruption claims</a></div><p>The ICI last week said Romualdez was expected to testify regarding the national budget insertions and his possible involvement in the DPWH flood control projects when he was the House Speaker.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BUDGET PROCESS<br/></strong></div><p>Earlier, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also arrived at the ICI office to attend the hearing. </p><p>Pangandaman said she will help explain the budget deliberation process of the National Expenditure Program or NEP.</p><p>“Gustong malamang ng Commission natin yung process ng NEP at paano ito nagiging GAA at kung paano nagre-release ng budget. Yun ang explain natin together with our senior officers ng ating DBM,” Pangandaman said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/senators-call-out-dbm-s-instant-release-of-funds-for-alleged-zaldy-co-insertions-1531">Senators call out DBM&#x27;s &#x27;instant&#x27; release of funds for alleged Zaldy Co insertions</a></div><p>“Yung insertions kasi hindi natin alam diba? Nanggagaling kasi yan sa mga departments, sila ang nagpo-propose niyan sa DBM, so siguro yung mga implementing agencies they will really have to plan, ano ba talaga yung mga proyekto na ipapasok nila,” she explained.</p><p>The DBM chief also said livestreaming of every budget deliberation, like what the Department of Public Works and Highways is doing, will help regain the trust of the public and will promote transparency.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sl1daHU6e7M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/poGrAaOy4F4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the former House Speaker, on Tuesday attended for the first time a hearing of of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).</p>

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the former House Speaker, on Tuesday attended for the first time a hearing of of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Ex-Speaker Romualdez attends ICI hearing on flood control mess

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Ex-Speaker Romualdez attends ICI hearing on flood control mess

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 14, 2025 09:59 AM PHT

|

Updated October 14, 2025 02:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Martin Romualdez

flood control

corruption

ICI

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