Philippine prosecutors have filed a criminal plunder charge against Martin Romualdez, a congressman and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos, over his alleged role in a 7.4 billion peso (US$117.9 million) corruption scandal tied to fake flood control projects. The charge, filed on Monday, September 7, stems from accusations of bribery, fraudulent budget allocations, and misuse of public funds meant for infrastructure. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla stated the case reflects no exceptions for powerful figures, adding, "We don't pick and choose, there is no name here that we're trying to avoid." Plunder is a non-bailable offense in the Philippines punishable by life imprisonment.
Romualdez, who stepped down as speaker of the House of Representatives in September the previous year when his name first emerged in the investigation, remains a sitting member of Congress. His legal counsel, Ade Fajardo, said Romualdez will face the charges in court, emphasizing due process: "Truth, evidence, and a fair process must prevail." Co-accused include former lawmaker Elizaldy Co and several others alleged to have conspired in siphoning government funds. Remulla confirmed additional cases are expected against Romualdez and other individuals linked to the scheme. Over the past year, multiple officials, lawmakers, and construction executives have faced charges in connection with the scandal, which centers on so-called "ghost" projects that received funding but were never completed.
A top political figure facing trial for alleged corruption while remaining in office shows the limits of accountability even when charges are filed. The outcome will test whether institutions can enforce consequences without disrupting governance.
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