Former Philippine Speaker Romualdez Suspended 90 Days by Anti-Graft Court in ₱7.44 Billion Infrastructure Kickback Case
The Third Division of the Sandiganbayan, the Philippines' anti-graft court, on November 10 ordered former House Speaker Martin Romualdez suspended from office for 90 days from his receipt of the order. Clerk of Court Dennis Pulma confirmed the resolution to reporters, and Romualdez's lawyers said they were weighing legal options.
Romualdez, a first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. representing Leyte's first district, has been detained at the New Quezon City Jail since September 14. The Office of the Ombudsman filed a non-bailable plunder charge against him on September 7, alleging that he and former Representative Zaldy Co took ₱7.44 billion in kickbacks from flood-control and infrastructure projects between 2022 and 2025, across at least 15 transactions.
A former Department of Public Works and Highways engineer has testified that 444 projects worth ₱27.4 billion inserted into the national budget were tagged to Romualdez. Romualdez denies the charges, has pleaded not guilty, and says flood-control projects under his watch were implemented properly.
His counsel Ade Fajardo said on November 11 that the suspension is a preventive measure during the proceedings, not a finding of guilt.
Source: Sandiganbayan
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：菲律宾前众议院议长 Martin Romualdez（资料图），本站档案图复用。 / Photo: Former Philippine House Speaker Martin Romualdez, file photo; GSM archive reuse.
