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Jose Rodel Clapano - The Philippine Star
April 25, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Former House speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has moved to disqualify the Office of the Ombudsman from investigating him over alleged involvement in the flood control controversy, warning that the probe is tainted by a “pattern of prejudgment” that violates due process.
In a four-page letter dated April 22, Romualdez’s lawyers from Villaraza & Angangco Law Offices argued that public statements by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and his officials show that prosecution for plunder had effectively been decided in advance – despite the absence of a formal complaint or preliminary investigation.
“There is a reasonable impression that the ombudsman has already resolved to prosecute our client,” the defense lawyers said.
The letter traces the alleged bias to as early as November 2025, when Remulla disclosed that his office had been studying the case for weeks and was already discussing possible plunder charges.
By April 2026, those statements had escalated into public declarations that a plunder case was being “seriously prepared,” possibly involving conspiracy and multiple actors.
For Romualdez’s camp, these were no longer neutral investigative updates, but early disclosures of a prosecution theory.
The defense lawyers also flagged statements within the ombudsman’s ranks, including a press conference where Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano reportedly referred to Romualdez as a “master plunderer.”
They noted that even as Remulla acknowledged the difficulty of proving plunder under current jurisprudence, he continued to publicly discuss filing such charges – suggesting, they argued, that the charge had been predetermined.
Taken together, the statements create the impression that any investigation would be a “mere formality” to justify a pre-set outcome, the defense said, warning that even subordinate officials may feel compelled to align with their chief’s public position.
Invoking Supreme Court doctrine on the appearance of impartiality, Romualdez asked that the ombudsman inhibit from the case and that any complaint be handled by a neutral and independent-minded official.
“This is not about questioning integrity, but about safeguarding due process and public confidence in the justice system,” the letter said.
Precautionary hold departure order
The Sandiganbayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order against Romualdez, preventing the former House speaker from any attempt to leave the country.
The Office of the Ombudsman earlier urged the anti-graft court to issue a precautionary hold departure order against Romualdez as it investigates his supposed involvement in the flood control controversy.
The court instructed the Bureau of Immigration to “hold the departure from the Philippines” of Romualdez, and to “include his name in the Hold Departure List.”
Aside from its request for precautionary hold departure order, Ombudsman Remulla previously said the agency sought to freeze the bank accounts and assets of Romualdez.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has reported that the Court of Appeals “issued a freeze order on the properties of a prominent incumbent legislator, a business associate and a corporate entity that were found to have been involved in the flood control project anomalies.”
The AMLC did not name the personalities covered by the freeze order.
“The freeze order covers a wide range of assets including 25 bank accounts and 10 insurance policies registered under the name of the said legislator… (as well as) 27 bank accounts, 10 insurance policies and one investment account under the name of the legislator’s alleged business associate; and two bank accounts, seven property accounts and one real estate property registered under the name of the corporate entity,” the AMLC added.
It added, “The CA found probable cause to link their assets to Plunder under Republic Act No. 7659, to Direct and Indirect Bribery under the Revised Penal Code and to violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA No. 3019).”
Meanwhile, justices of the Sandiganbayan denounced the apparent ignorance of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Metro Manila regional director Gerard Opulencia as he was grilled about how kickbacks for flood control projects were prepared and delivered to their supposed recipients.
Based on his affidavit obtained by the anti-graft court’s Third Division, Opulencia narrated a process where he would require district engineers to submit a list of projects that would be given funding, submit status reports, prepare the so-called commitments and deliver such commitments to Diamond Hotel. — Keisha Ta-asan, Ghio Ong
