President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday, November 13, he does not believe former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin, is among those who will soon face arrest in connection with the alleged anomalies involving billions—if not trillions—of pesos in flood control projects.
Speaking at a press conference held three months after his 2025 State of the Nation Address, Marcos stressed that investigators have yet to establish any evidence against Romualdez.
This was the President’s answer when asked directly if Romualdez, who previously presided over the House when many of the questioned infrastructure allocations were made, is included in the list of individuals facing potential charges.
“I don’t think so… no,” the President said. “The only evidence that has been given against him is in the Senate. So, I don’t know. With the Speaker, no. Not as yet, not as yet.”
“If something else comes out, then he might have to be answerable for something,” he added.
Marcos added that any future accountability would depend on whether additional evidence emerges.
The President emphasized that his administration will not file cases “for optics,” warning that rushing complaints without solid documentation risks allowing suspects to evade accountability through technicalities.
“We file cases to put people in jail or to make people answer,” he said.
Marcos stressed that no one is exempt from the widening investigation into irregular flood control contracts, which has so far produced graft, malversation, falsification, plunder, tax-evasion, and bid-rigging complaints against DPWH officials, private contractors, and other individuals.
He said the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” portal has been central to the probe, receiving more than 20,000 public reports since its launch in August.
While declining to prejudge any legislator, the President reiterated that the government is prepared to file charges against anyone if complainants provide documentary evidence.
“Provide us the evidence and we will file cases,” he said. “Walang immune dito… walang exempted dito sa mga imbestigasyon na ito.”
Marcos added that he expects several suspects already identified in the probes to be jailed before Christmas once the Department of Justice (DOJ) completes its initial batch of cases.
