Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Daniza Fernandez

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/178486677213420260724030724_e8e3f342d4e84fa9eb243d53151cd649b36086631ebc14371cd5ecf25dae69ac (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former congressman Zaldy Co and Rep. Martin Romualdez. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a complaint for preliminary investigation against Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, ex-Rep. Zaldy Co, and others for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, graft, and money laundering in relation to the flood control scandal.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/romualdez-tried-to-leave-ph-despite-hold-departure-order-ombudsman-1726">Romualdez trying to leave PH despite hold departure order – Ombudsman</a></div><p>Romualdez and Co are among the subjects of the Ombudsman’s investigation on alleged corruption in flood control projects.</p><p>The anti-graft body earlier stressed that the complaint is not yet a formal charge before a court. The process begins with fact-finding, recommendation for preliminary investigation, followed by filing of a case in court.</p><p>The Ombudsman had said that Romualdez and Co will be given an opportunity to comment on the complaints.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>More details to follow.</em></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><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></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a complaint for preliminary investigation against Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, ex-Rep. Zaldy Co, and others for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, graft, and money laundering in relation to the flood control scandal.</p>

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a complaint for preliminary investigation against Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, ex-Rep. Zaldy Co, and others for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, graft, and money laundering in relation to the flood control scandal.

Ombudsman seeks preliminary probe vs Romualdez, Co for plunder, bribery, money laundering

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Ombudsman seeks preliminary probe vs Romualdez, Co for plunder, bribery, money laundering

Daniza Fernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 24, 2026 12:40 PM PHT

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Updated July 24, 2026 12:43 PM PHT

Read More:

martin romualdez

zaldy co

flood control

plunder

ombudsman

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