Jamaine Punzalan

Then House Speaker Martin Romualdez greets President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he arrives for his fourth State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

SONA 2025

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177692636777620250728-marcos-sona-congress-JC9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Then House Speaker Martin Romualdez greets President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he arrives for his fourth State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not feel alluded to by his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, after the latter pointed to the Executive branch in having the command responsibility over the national budget marred by flood control anomalies, Malacanang  said Thursday. </p><p>“Hindi ganoon ang tingin ng Pangulo, dahil nga po, una po 2025 noong nakikita niya na mayroong mga anomalya, siya po ang nagpa-utos na magpa-imbestiga. Kapag sinabi po nating executive, hindi lamang po ang Pangulo ang nasa executive,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. </p><p>Castro noted that it was Marcos who initiated the flood control probe through the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to dispel allegations of cover-up. </p><p>“Kung ano po ang magiging depensa sa mga maaaring pag-aakusa kay dating Speaker Romualdez ay kaniya pong depensa po iyon,” she said in a press briefing. </p><p>“At kung sinasabi niya po na ang executive ang may command responsibility, kaya nga po nagpautos ang Pangulo, hindi po tinulugan, walang pagko-cover up, pinaumpisahan po niya ang pag-iimbestiga para kung mayroon mang anomalya at kung sino iyong dapat na managot, dapat po na managot,” the Palace official said. </p><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/ztS8zCtL7iI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Romualdez on Tuesday said he<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/romualdez-says-he-will-not-allow-myself-to-be-turned-into-scapegoat-in-flood-control-mess-1825"> would “not allow myself to be turned into the scapegoat”</a> in the flood control mess and urged the Office of the Ombudsman to “follow the evidence.” </p><p>He also rejected accusations that he masterminded the corruption scheme, asserting that the national budget “does not depend on just one person” and is the “product of a constitutional process involving the Executive, the House, and the Senate.”</p><p>“Kung ano po ang nararamdaman ni dating Speaker Martin Romualdez ay hindi po natin ito saklaw. Kung ang pag-iimbestiga po ay makakatulong mismo ang dating Speaker, mas gugustuhin po iyan ng pamahalaan, ng Pangulo para managot ang dapat na managot,” Castro said. </p><p>When asked if Marcos and Romualdez were on speaking terms, Castro said, “Sa aking pagkakaalam, kung ako ay tatanungin ninyo, wala po akong nakita nag-meet sila, nagkausap sila. Wala po.”</p><p>Former lawmaker <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/17/profile-who-is-zaldy-co-0012">Zaldy Co</a> earlier accused Romualdez and Marcos of orchestrating budget insertions for flood control projects.</p><p>The president has consistently denied any connection to the scandal, noting it was he who brought the issue front and center in a national address. Last week, he announced <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/20/czech-police-remain-mum-on-zaldy-co-s-arrest-1842">Co&#x27;s arrest in the Czech Republic</a> for immigration violations.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TRIP TO CZECHIA </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said he would be flying on Thursday, April 23, to the Czech Republic for the return of Co. </p><p>“Katulad noong dati kong sinabi, ang pinakadetalye po ay mismo si SOJ Vida ang magbibigay po sa inyo,” Castro said. </p><p>“Sa ngayon po…ang magiging aksyon ng ating bansa, depende po sa anumang mapagkakasunduan with Czech Republic at kung ano ang magiging paraan sa  pagpapabalik kay Zaldy Co,” she said.</p><p>Asked how confident the Marcos administration was  in bringing Co back home, Castro said, “Kung Pilipinas lamang po ang pag-uusapan natin, definitely confident po tayo, since mayroon pong ibang bansa na involve dito. So, let us just hope na maibalik agad si Zaldy Co dito sa ating bansa.”  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/ombudsman-to-summon-zaldy-co-once-back-in-ph-to-explain-matters-still-under-investigation-2106">Ombudsman to summon Zaldy Co once back in PH to explain ‘matters still under investigation’</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/doj-to-invoke-un-treaty-vs-corruption-to-bring-back-zaldy-co-1512">DOJ to invoke UN treaty vs corruption to bring back Zaldy Co</a></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/iMUstPEIwuI?&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/C9i4Yw8cwNc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not feel alluded to by his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, after the latter pointed to the Executive branch in having the command responsibility over the national budget marred by flood control anomalies, Malacanang said Thursday.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not feel alluded to by his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, after the latter pointed to the Executive branch in having the command responsibility over the national budget marred by flood control anomalies, Malacanang said Thursday.

Palace: Marcos does not feel alluded to in Romualdez ‘scapegoat’ remark

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Palace: Marcos does not feel alluded to in Romualdez ‘scapegoat’ remark

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 23, 2026 02:48 PM PHT

|

Updated April 23, 2026 02:49 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Martin Romualdez

Claire Castro

Zaldy Co

flood control

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