Marcos announces looming corruption cases vs former House Speaker, his first cousin
resident Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced his government is set to file corruption charges against the former speaker of the House of Representatives, in connection with billions of pesos of
Anna Mogato | July 27, 2026
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced his government is set to file corruption charges against his cousin, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, in connection with billions of pesos of kickbacks in flood control projects.
Speaking for the fifth time before a joint session of Congress at the opening of the second regular legislative session, Marcos said Leyte Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will have to face the law even if they are related to each other.
“At dumating na tayo sa punto na ayon sa Ombudsman na malapit na ang paghain ng patong-patong na kaso laban sa dating [House] Speaker. Masakit man sa akin ito, ngunit kailangan natin gawin ang tama,” Marcos said, referring to Romualdez.
“Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ang pangulo ng Pilipinas at ang tungkulin ko ay sa inyo, ang aking kapwa mga Pilipino.”
(And now we have reached the point that the Ombudsman said that they may file cases against the former House Speaker. This pains me, but we have to do what is write. I am no the president of my family. I am not the president of my friends. I am the president of the Philippines and my duty is to you, my fellow Filipinos.)
Marcos revealed the massive corruption scandal during last year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), promising to go after the contractors and government officials involved in the falsified, subpar and overpriced public works projects.
Some of them have been arrested and detained while facing plunder charges.
He said more than 25 billion pesos had been recovered from corrupt lawmakers, public officials, and contractors and were plowed back into education, health, and social services.
Shortly after, the government established a short-lived Independent Commission for Infrastructure, a small committee for private sector auditors and former government officials that led investigations on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Both Lower and Upper Houses of Congress also conducted their own investigations, but have since been concluded.
Romualdez, along with former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative and Appropriations Committee Chairman Zaldy Co, were implicated as the masterminds behind the flood control scandal due to their involved in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), dubbed as the most corrupt budget in Philippine history.
It was the 2025 GAA that had bicameral insertions that led to the DPWH’s budget ballooning and surpassing the Department of Education’s budget.
Romualdez stepped down as House Speaker on September 17 2025, almost two months after the flood control issue was revealed. Later on September 29, Co also resigned as a member of the House of Representatives.
In a statement, Romualdez said that he “respects the President’s statement, and that he has never asked for favors nor special treatment.”
“Sang-ayon ako na gawin natin ang tama. Ang tama ay ang sumunod sa proseso at hayaan ang ebidensya ang magsalita. Naninindigan akong wala akong ginawang anumang labag sa batas. At handa akong patunayan ito.”
(I agree that we should do what is right. What is right is to follow the process and let the evidence speak for itself. I stand by my claim that I did not break any law, and I am ready to prove it.)
Recovered funds
Marcos in his SONA also said that the government has managed to freeze or recover almost 25 billion pesos worth of money and assets. Over 800 million pesos from this were returned to the Treasury’s coffers.
“Gayundin, pinigilan natin ang paglabas ng pera ng bayan na ipambabayad pa dapat sa mga depektibo, peke, o guni-guning proyekto, at mapupunta lang sana sa bulsa ng mga tiwaling kontraktor at opisyal,” Marcos said.
(At the same time, we also restricted the release of public funds that should have been used to pay for defective, fake, or non-existent projects that would have gone to the pockets of corrupt contractors or officials.)
“Ipinapaubaya na natin ang pag-uusig sa Ombudsman at sa atin pang pinalakas na National Prosecution Service. Nananalig din tayo sa makatarungang hatol ng hukuman. Makakaasa kayo na ang gulong ng hustisya ay tumatakbo.”
(Let us leave it to the Ombudsman’s investigation and also to our reinforced National Prosecution Service. Let us believe in the Court’s fair judgement. You can trust that the wheels of justice are turning.)
The President focused on his government’s responses after global oil shock due to conflict in the Middle East.
The gallery applauded his speech when he asked Congress to expand income and corporate tax exemptions as well as demand the amendment to a power law passing system losses and tax to consumers.
The speech lasted one hour and 31 minutes.