A Philippine lawmaker charged with corruption in flood control projects

[mastercode]

BOOK INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TICKETS LOCAL FLIGHTS HOTELS BOOKINGS WORLDWIDE AND MORE AT CHEAPEST RATE EVER! CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT AND RECEIVE YOUR FLIGHT TICKET INSTANTLY

A Philippine lawmaker charged with corruption in flood control projects

House Speaker Martin Romualdez hears the decision of members of Congress to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives in Quezon City in Manila, Philippines, Wednesday, Feb.5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon, File)

2026-09-07T09:18:41Z

                                       

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine lawmaker and former speaker of the House of Representatives was charged Monday for allegedly pocketing millions of dollars in         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/philippines-flood-control-corruption-inquiry-6ec985cb21d1c14ba617a57b9f223974">kickbacks from flood control projects in a widening scandal concerning         data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/philippines-flood-control-corruption-investigation-22e4c3eab4b8ef0880b625e17e290cce">vital public construction to shield communities from typhoons.

Rep. Martin Romualdez, a cousin and former political ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and others are facing plunder charges at the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

“The amount involved here is 7.4 billion pesos ($118 million), and this has been divided in various transactions where the money was used,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, whose office filed the charges, told a news conference.

Romualdez has earlier denied any wrongdoing.

Nearly 10,000 flood control projects worth more than 545 billion pesos ($9 billion) that were supposed to have been undertaken since Marcos took office in mid-2022 have come under scrutiny. Many were found to be substandard, overpriced or not built at all.

   
       
   

The Philippines is among the countries most exposed to destructive typhoons, some 20 of which lash the archipelago every year, causing considerable damage and casualties due to floods and landslides.

Romualdez, former Rep. Zaldy Co, who used to head the House appropriations committee and is now considered a fugitive after fleeing to Europe, are among several powerful legislators accused of pocketing huge kickbacks. An incumbent senator, a former senator and several ex-government engineers and public works officials as well as wealthy construction executives have been detained while facing trial on corruption charges.

   
       




   

Remulla said so much money was stolen that they tried to hide it by buying several houses, and even donating $1 million to Harvard University.

   
       
           
               
                   
   
   


   

 

 
    Read More
 
 

   
   
   
 

   

       
   

               
           
       
   

“This is the just the start,” he said, adding more cases will be filed against Romualdez and others, including plunder and money laundering charges.

Marcos has described the alleged scale of corruption as “horrible” and has established an independent commission to investigate. Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro on Monday quoted Marcos as saying earlier that he would not spare even relatives.

                                   
                               
                           

                           
                   
                   
Source: A Philippine lawmaker charged with corruption in flood control projects