Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Rowegie Abanto

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/1785140368033viber_image_2026-07-27_16-18-43-927.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez greet President Ferdinand R. 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</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday by announcing that multiple charges would be soon filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin, in relation to the flood control corruption scandal.</p><p>&quot;Dumating na tayo sa punto na ayon sa Ombudsman ay malapit na ang paghahain ng patong-patong na kaso laban sa dating Speaker,&quot; Marcos told millions of Filipinos tuned in to his penultimate SONA. </p><p>&quot;Masakit man sa akin ito, ngunit kailangan nating gawin ang tama. Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya, hindi ako pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay pangulo ng Pilipinas at ang tungkulin ko ay sa inyo, ang aking mga kapwa Pilipino,&quot; he said, which was met with loud applause from lawmakers and guests at the Batasang Pambansa.</p><p>A survey released ahead of the SONA showed that Filipinos wanted him to prioritize discussions on his anti-corruption efforts and programs to bring down high prices of goods.</p><p>A year ago, Marcos brought corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects into the national spotlight, with his famed &quot;mahiya naman kayo!&quot; (shame on you) line during his SONA.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/-hindi-siya-titigil-dizon-says-marcos-to-highlight-continued-anti-corruption-campaign-in-sona-0908">&#x27;Hindi siya titigil&#x27;: Dizon says Marcos to highlight continued anti-corruption campaign in SONA</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/dizon-cites-reforms-a-year-after-marcos-flood-control-expose-1032">What changed a year after Marcos flood control &#x27;exposé&#x27;? Dizon cites reforms</a></div><p>That was followed by exposés which led to large demonstrations across the country calling for accountability, multiple government investigations, and filing of charges that resulted in the arrest of some personalities and politicians.</p><p>Many however remain unsatisfied with his administration&#x27;s actions against the largest corruption scandal to hit the country, as <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/complaint-vs-romualdez-not-rushed-for-sona-dizon-1253">some of the so-called &quot;big fish&quot; linked to the corruption scheme have yet to face formal charges</a>.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/ombudsman-seeks-preliminary-probe-vs-romualdez-co-for-plunder-money-laundering-1240">Ombudsman panel seeks preliminary probe vs Romualdez, Co for plunder, bribery, money laundering</a></div><p>In a statement following Marcos&#x27; SONA, Romualdez said he respects the president&#x27;s pronouncement.</p><p>&quot;Masakit man ito sa aming pamilya, iginagalang ko ang naging pahayag ng Pangulo. Hindi ako kailanman humingi ng pabor o espesyal na pagtrato,&quot; said Romualdez.</p><p>&quot;Sang-ayon ako na gawin natin ang tama. Ang tama ay ang sumunod sa proseso at hayaan ang ebidensya ang magsalita. Naninindigan akong wala akong ginawang anumang labag sa batas,&quot; he added. &quot;Handa akong patunayan ito.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TURNING OVER ILL-GOTTEN FUNDS</strong></div><p>Marcos assured the public that ill-gotten funds recovered from the corruption scandal would immediately be turned over to the national treasury.</p><p>He noted that about P25 billion in assets linked to the controversy had been frozen and preserved. Out of this figure, some P800 million has been returned to the nation&#x27;s coffers, he said. </p><p>He said he was leaving the infrastructure probe in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman and the national prosecution service.</p><p>&quot;Nananalig din tayo sa makatarungang hatol ng hukuman. Makakaasa kayo na ang gulong ng hustisya ay tumatakbo,&quot; he said.</p><p>Aside from holding culprits to account, Marcos said the government was also implementing reforms in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).</p><p>&quot;Bukod sa mga flood control projects, lahat ng mga proyekto ay sinuri at tiniyak na talagang kinakailangan at maayos — mula plano, presyo, hanggang pagpapatupad,&quot; Marcos said, adding that overpricing would be avoided with the new system.</p><p>&quot;Bantay-sarado ang bawat proyekto at ang nakalaang pondo sa transparency portal, integrity chain, at katuwang na mga civil society organization,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h4DX6JuTpOE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday by announcing that multiple charges would be soon filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin, in relation to the flood control corruption scandal. </p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday by announcing that multiple charges would be soon filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin, in relation to the flood control corruption scandal.

'Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya': Marcos says multiple charges vs Romualdez to be filed soon

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'Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya': Marcos says multiple charges vs Romualdez to be filed soon

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 27, 2026 04:21 PM PHT

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Updated July 27, 2026 05:39 PM PHT

Read More:

SONA

SONA 2026

State Of The Nation Address

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Flood Control

Flood Control Scandal

Flood Control Corruption

Corruption

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