Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Escudero; Romualdez

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez could face a complaint for gross inexcusable negligence.</p><p>Remulla said Romualdez should be held accountable for the appointment of former congressman Zaldy Co as House Appropriations Committee chair. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/doj-not-soft-on-former-speaker-romualdez-in-flood-control-mess-investigation-remulla-1942">DOJ not soft on former Speaker Romualdez in flood control mess investigation -- Remulla</a></div><p>Co is fighting allegations that he &quot;masterminded&quot; last-minute insertions in the 2025 national budget. He has branded the corruption allegations against him as &quot;false and baseless.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/17/doj-denies-romualdez-being-considered-as-state-witness-in-flood-control-mess-1637">DOJ denies Romualdez being considered as state witness in flood control mess</a></div><p>“When we look at the Zaldy Co cases, and the whole pattern that happened, it was really Zaldy Co working with some senators that came up with a final version of the budget. And the plan was laid out there. If fingers do not point to the Speaker, former Speaker, as the Leader of the House, he was responsible for the appointment of Zaldy Co,” Remulla said.</p><p>“Although Zaldy Co was elected, everybody knows that it was the Speaker&#x27;s choice. That&#x27;s why we have to hold him accountable for that,” he added.</p><p>Romualdez has yet to respond to ABS-CBN News’ request for comment. </p><p>Romualdez in September resigned as House Speaker to an independent investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects. He said efforts linking him to alleged kickbacks in infrastructure projects were &quot;an outright and complete fabrication&quot;.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>VILLAR, ESCUDERO</strong></div><p>Remulla also said his office would form a separate task force to investigate the Las Piñas-Bacoor River Drive by the Villar family. </p><p>“Because the landowners also benefited from that… we&#x27;re forming a new task force for that. Just for Villar itself. The Zapote River Drive together with the Bacoor properties and the boundaries of the rivers. There were improvements made in that area. That&#x27;s one thing that has to be looked at,” Remulla said. </p><p>Remulla also confirmed that Sen. Chiz Escudero was under investigation for his involvement in the flood control mess. </p><p>“We have statements of money trailing to him. Narrations of facts that are there already. But of course we want to buttress it with other evidence,” Remulla said.</p><p>“The other house is led by Senator Chiz Escudero as Senate President. And they were able to come up with a budget which included insertions. Which included diversions of money from what was supposed to be to what became. If it&#x27;s not criminal, then it must be negligence… nobody will be completely blameless with that,” he added.</p><p>ABS-CBN News has sought comment from Escudero and Villar. </p><p>Sen. Mark Villar earlier denied irregularity during his DPWH stint, saying he prioritized reforms in the agency. He also said that he welcomes the probe on the issue.</p><p>Escudero meanwhile previously said allegations linking to the misuse of flood control funds are a &quot;demolition job&quot;. </p><p>Remulla said a court case would be filed on Nov. 11 against those behind the anomalous flood control projects and those who benefited from them.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘TOTAL CONNIVANCE’</strong><strong> </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure said its probe of anomalous flood control projects was uncovering a “total connivance” between public works officials, lawmakers and other agencies. </p><p>“There has been a lot of connivance. Congress, DPWH, even the agencies that were supposed to monitor the fund movements. So definitely, there was total connivance. And the fact is that congressmen and senators are told by DPWH kung sana distrito sila pwede magbaba ng SOPs,” ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson said. </p><p>“There are favorite district offices where they give very high SOPs. Maliwanag na ‘yon. So it&#x27;s a matter of identifying this whole government machinery system… without the role of DPWH officials, this won&#x27;t happen,” he added. </p><p>Singson said half of the budget spent on flood control projects could’ve been saved if there was proper implementation of the projects.</p><p>“If you look at the budget of the DPWH, just on flood control from 2016 to 2025, 1.7 trillion pesos ang nailagay sa flood control… and the flood control master plan for the 18 major rivers would have cost only P800 to P900 billion.  Kalahati lang yun kung ginawa lang ng tama,” he said.</p><p>When asked if the probe could reach members of the upper chamber, Singson said the investigation would go “wherever it leads.”</p>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez could face a complaint for gross inexcusable negligence.</p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez could face a complaint for gross inexcusable negligence.

Remulla says Romualdez may face raps over Co’s appointment; Escudero 'under investigation'

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Remulla says Romualdez may face raps over Co’s appointment; Escudero 'under investigation'

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 04, 2025 12:57 PM PHT

|

Updated November 04, 2025 06:47 PM PHT

Read More:

flood control

baha

Remulla

Romualdez

Co

Zaldy Co

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