Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez could be charged with gross negligence for allegedly allowing former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. *Zaldy Co to take control of the 2025 national budget process, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
In an interview on the Facts First with Christian Esguerra vlog, Remulla said Romualdez’s failure to supervise Co caused significant damage to the integrity of the budget process.
“Si Martin negligent siya. Siya ang pumili kay Zaldy Co, kargo mo ‘yan. Dapat inalam niya kung ano ang ginagawa ni Zaldy Co, pondo ng bayan yan eh,” Remulla emphasized.
The Ombudsman’s office is now investigating whether Romualdez personally benefited from the budget process. His Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) will be scrutinized, along with any signs of ill-gotten wealth.
Remulla also pointed to Senator Chiz Escudero, who was Senate President at the time, as having taken over the entire budget process from then-Senate Finance Committee Chair Grace Poe.
“He took over the entire budgetary process , nawala si Grace Poe sa budget na ‘yun. He took over everything. He took over the job of Grace Poe,” Remulla said.
He added that Escudero and Co continued to meet as a “small committee” even after the bicameral conference committee had approved the budget.
“Silang dalawa ni Zaldy Co ang nag-uusap sa small committee, after bicam. Siya mismo ang dumating roon. Nakunan nga siya ng video na nagpunta roon, siya mismo. May CCTV tayong makukuha,” Remulla noted.
This follows reports that Escudero was involved in over ₱142 billion in budget insertions coinciding with video evidence of his visit to the House of Representatives on November 30, 2024, to discuss the 2025 budget.
Meanwhile, Co’s family-owned company is reportedly among the top recipients of billions of pesos in allegedly anomalous contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Authorities have already issued a freeze order on Co’s bank accounts and confiscated his air assets.
Co is currently believed to be in Portugal, and has ignored previous subpoenas from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which is also investigating the matter. (ZIA LUNA)
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