Camille Naredo

Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers his speech as he steps down from his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers his speech as he steps down from his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Members of the 20th Congress of the Lower House are currently casting their votes for the next Speaker of the House, with Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III poised to take over the chamber’s leadership. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

20th CONGRESS- House of Representatives

Daniza Fernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178748004294220250917-house-romualdez-resignation-MT2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers his speech as he steps down from his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers his speech as he steps down from his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- The camp of Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez was surprised and felt they were being attacked after the Ombudsman said there are 28 more witnesses who may testify against the former House speaker in his alleged involvement in the flood control mess.The Ombudsman made the remark after Orly Guteza, who claimed that he was one of former congressman Zaldy Co’s bagmen, retracted his statement that he delivered suitcases of kickback money to Romualdez. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/after-guteza-recants-ombudsman-says-28-others-ready-to-testify-in-romualdez-cases-1024"></a><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/after-guteza-recants-ombudsman-says-28-others-ready-to-testify-in-romualdez-cases-1024">Ombudsman says 28 witnesses to testify in Romualdez probe despite Guteza’s reported recantation</a></div>“Kami po ay nagugulat dito [new witnesses] kasi ngayon lang ito namin narinig at hindi pa namin nakikita, nababasa, o nalalaman kung sino ‘tong mga ‘to. Para bang iniiba-iba ang sitwasyon as the investigation goes along,” Romualdez’s spokesman Ade Fajardo said on DZMM on Sunday.“Kami po ay pakiramdam namin ay parang talagang tinutuligsa sa pagkakataong ito,” he added. Fajardo said Romualdez welcomed Guteza’s recantation.Aside from his supplemental counter-affidavit, Romualdez’s camp also submitted to the Ombudsman the new affidavit of Guteza and the affidavits of 25 other former personnel of Co.“Sinasabi nila [25 ex-personnel] na walang ganyang bigayan ng pera. Sa katunayan, marami rin sa kanila ang nagsabi na lately ay inudyukan sila na sumanib sa kanila na may pangakong financial,” Fajardo said. He denied anew that they are behind any recantations.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/romualdez-says-guteza-recantation-affidavits-cast-doubt-on-his-links-to-flood-control-scam-1945">Romualdez says Guteza recantation, affidavits &#x27;cast doubt&#x27; on his links to flood control scam </a> </div>“Bigyan naman natin ng benefit of the doubt itong mga personalities na ito,” Fajardo said. “Posible rin naman na sila ay naitulak ng kanilang damdamin na magsabi ng totoo.”The spokesperson added that they are hoping the Ombudsman would consider the submitted documents.Aside from Baligod, four of the 18 former bodyguards of Co have earlier recanted their testimonies.

The camp of Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez was surprised and felt they were being attacked after the Ombudsman said there are 28 more witnesses who may testify against the former House speaker in his alleged involvement in the flood control mess.

The camp of Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez was surprised and felt they were being attacked after the Ombudsman said there are 28 more witnesses who may testify against the former House speaker in his alleged involvement in the flood control mess.

Romualdez camp surprised with Ombudsman’s 28 more witnesses

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Romualdez camp surprised with Ombudsman’s 28 more witnesses

Daniza Fernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 23, 2026 06:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Martin Romualdez

flood control

Ombudsman

Orly Guteza

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