MANILA, Philippines — A high-ranking Filipino legislator and former House Speaker faces criminal prosecution over allegations he siphoned off tens of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks from government flood mitigation projects, in a growing corruption scandal that has undermined critical public infrastructure designed to protect vulnerable communities from the country’s frequent deadly typhoons.
On Monday, the Philippine Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder charges before the country’s anti-corruption court, the Sandiganbayan, against Rep. Martin Romualdez, a cousin and former close political ally of sitting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The charges name multiple other co-accused, ranging from current and former legislators to public works officials and private construction industry leaders.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters the total sum of illicit funds involved in the scheme reaches 7.4 billion Philippine pesos, equivalent to roughly $118 million, distributed across hundreds of irregular transactions. In an extraordinary revelation of the scale of illicit enrichment, Remulla confirmed that the stolen funds were used to purchase multiple luxury properties, and even included a $1 million donation to Harvard University, which was used to launder the illegal proceeds. Romualdez has repeatedly rejected all accusations of wrongdoing, maintaining his innocence since the investigation began.
The scandal has cast a spotlight on nearly 10,000 flood control projects initiated across the country since Marcos took office in mid-2022. Official audits have already found that a large share of these projects are riddled with problems: many fail to meet minimum construction standards, others were grossly overpriced to siphon off public funds, and some were never built at all, despite full public funds being disbursed for the work.
As one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations, the Philippines faces an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually. These storms regularly trigger catastrophic flooding and deadly landslides across the archipelago, leaving thousands of residents displaced and causing billions of dollars in economic damage each year. Functional flood control infrastructure is a matter of life and death for millions of Filipinos living in low-lying, storm-exposed coastal and riverine communities, making the alleged corruption all the more damaging.
Alongside Romualdez, the charges name former Representative Zaldy Co, the former chair of the House appropriations committee, who is currently a fugitive after fleeing the country for Europe. Several other high-profile figures are already in pre-trial detention, including an incumbent senator, a former senator, multiple retired government engineers and senior public works officials, and a number of wealthy construction chief executives, all of whom are facing corruption charges related to the scheme.
Remulla emphasized that Monday’s charges mark only the first phase of the sweeping investigation, telling reporters that additional plunder and money laundering charges will be filed against Romualdez and other co-conspirators as evidence continues to be compiled.
President Marcos has publicly decried the alleged scale of corruption in the flood control program as “horrible”, and has established an independent special commission to lead a full, unobstructed investigation. On Monday, presidential spokesperson Claire Castro reiterated Marcos’ earlier pledge that no individual, even close relatives, would be given immunity from prosecution if evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered.