Jamaine Punzalan

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

Article (news)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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/178841301462220250917-house-of-rep-romualdez-steps-down-MT18.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Rep. Martin Romualdez delivers a speech as he steps down from his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives, September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA &mdash; Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that cases would be filed against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, despite the recantation of some potential witnesses.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Oo, ba&#39;t hindi? Andun na eh,&rdquo; Remulla told reporters.&nbsp;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/28/ombudsman-42-witnesses-in-romualdez-case-1706">Ombudsman: 42 witnesses in Romualdez case&nbsp;</a></div><p>Remulla downplayed the impact of the recent recantation of some of the former staff of ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, including Orly Guteza, who claimed to have made cash deliveries to Romualdez.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Wala yung recantation. Yung recantation, smokescreen lang nila &#39;yon para mawala yung iinit sa kanila. That&#39;s only a small part of the case. Wala &#39;yan. Syempre, pini-play up &#39;yan ng mga abogado niya,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/guteza-recants-senate-testimony-says-defensor-and-marcoleta-behind-it-1858">Guteza recants Senate testimony, says Defensor and Marcoleta behind it</a></div><p>&ldquo;Andyan lang &#39;yan,&rdquo; he said of the looming cases. &ldquo;We&#39;re not stopping and we have not stopped and we have been working hard and it will come out very soon.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Basta ano lang kayo, relax lang kayo. Andiyan na &#39;yan,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/27/ombudsman-witness-recantations-do-not-erase-earlier-claims-vs-romualdez-2005">Ombudsman: Witness recantations do not erase earlier claims vs Romualdez&nbsp;</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/AU5TTIwOrNc?&pp=0gcJCRoMAYcqIYzv&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>But Remulla sidestepped the media&#39;s attempts to get him to reveal a time table.</div><p>&ldquo;Basta marami &#39;yan. Andiyan na &#39;yan. Hindi, ayaw kong magbigay ng specific answer diyan. Basta makikita niyo na lang. Andiyan na &#39;yan,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;</p><p>Remulla said they wanted to make sure they file a strong case as Romualdez has a lot of resources.</p><p>&ldquo;Marami lang kailangang talagang tapusin at kumpunahin para maganda ang pagkakagawa ng kaso. Hindi kasi pwedeng magpa-file diyan ng mahihinang kaso. Sobrang daming pera niyan&hellip; Sobrang daming abogado,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;</p><p>Romualdez previously said the affidavits of Guteza and 25 others do not only &quot;destroy the reliability and credibility of principal witness accounts&rdquo;, several of them also claimed they were offered money in exchange for signing a prepared affidavit.</p><div><a 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 &#39;cast doubt&#39; on his links to flood control scam&nbsp;</a></div><p>For these reasons, the former House Speaker argued that the Ombudsman should &ldquo;not allow&rdquo; the complaints against him to proceed.&nbsp;</p><p>&mdash; Report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News&nbsp;</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/UpaPObzN8tE?&pp=0gcJCRoMAYcqIYzv&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></div>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that cases would be filed against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, despite the recantation of some potential witnesses.</p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that cases would be filed against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, despite the recantation of some potential witnesses.

‘Relax lang kayo’: Remulla says cases vs Romualdez will be filed despite recantations

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‘Relax lang kayo’: Remulla says cases vs Romualdez will be filed despite recantations

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2026 01:27 PM PHT

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Romualdez

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