Former House Speaker, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez.Photo from Romualdez's Facebook page
TheMonitorMindanaoToday.com | Ombudsman Preparing “Grand Case” vs. Romualdez Over Budget, Money Laundering Allegations
The Office of the Ombudsman is preparing what officials described as a “grand case” against former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez over alleged conspiracy to defraud the national treasury and money laundering.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, May 26, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that investigators are building additional complaints tied to alleged budget irregularities and financial transactions.
“Meron kaming hinahanda na dalawa pang kaso tungkol diyan, isa pang money laundering case, mabigat, and the grandest case of them all ‘yung conspiracy to defraud the treasury through the budget,” Remulla said.
He stressed that the case is being handled with extreme caution because of its magnitude and possible historical significance.
“Hindi madaling ilatag yan kaya we are being very careful about every premise we make kasi first time itong gagawin sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas na magkakaroon tayo ng ganitong kaso sa Pilipinas,” he added.
Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that Romualdez was among the personalities covered by a Court of Appeals freeze order involving 25 bank accounts and 10 insurance policies allegedly linked to him.
The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division also earlier granted the Ombudsman’s request for a precautionary hold departure order against Romualdez, preventing him from leaving the country for a planned medical checkup abroad.
Meanwhile, Romualdez has sought the inhibition of the Office of the Ombudsman from conducting any investigation against him, claiming that certain officials had already shown “prejudgment” regarding the allegations.
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