Sandiganbayan Orders Arrest of Former Speaker Romualdez, Ex-Rep. Co in P56 Billion Plunder Case

Sandiganbayan Orders Arrest of Former Speaker Romualdez, Ex-Rep. Co in P56 Billion Plunder Case

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | September 7, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – In a significant move reverberating through Philippine political circles, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division has ordered the arrest of former House Speaker and current Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, along with former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co. The anti-graft court also issued hold-departure orders against Romualdez and co-accused Joselyn Tragua Serenio and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, initiating a critical phase in a plunder case stemming from alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

The court’s decision, rendered on Monday, September 7, 2026, marks a pivotal development following the Office of the Ombudsman’s formal charges. “The issuance of a warrant of arrest signifies that, after personally evaluating the records, the Court found probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged,” the Third Division declared. This legal threshold, the court clarified, “exists when the facts and circumstances alleged by the prosecution would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent person to believe that an offense has been committed by the person sought to be arrested.”

Crucially, the Sandiganbayan emphasized that this order is not a pre-judgment of guilt: “All accused continue to enjoy the constitutional presumption of innocence until their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt after a full and impartial trial.”

The Core Allegations: P56 Billion in “Ill-Gotten Wealth”

At the heart of the formidable charges against Romualdez and Co are allegations of “concerted and coordinated acts” to “unlawfully amass, accumulate, and acquire ill-gotten wealth” totaling an astonishing P56 billion. Ombudsman investigators claim these illicit gains were acquired between 2022 and 2025, with specific allegations detailing that portions of this wealth were purportedly delivered by bodyguards in suitcases.

This investigation delves deep into the alleged misuse of public funds earmarked for critical flood control infrastructure, placing two prominent political figures under intense scrutiny. As plunder is a non-bailable offense in the Philippines, should Romualdez be arrested, he would face immediate detention.

The issuance of these warrants underscores the Sandiganbayan’s commitment to pursuing accountability in high-profile corruption cases. The unfolding judicial process is expected to provide a clearer picture of the evidence presented by the Ombudsman and the defenses mounted by the accused, ultimately determining the culpability of those implicated in this substantial plunder allegation.

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