Duterte, Romualdez trade barbs over kickback allegations
Former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was also receiving kickbacks from illegal gambling apart from flood control projects, Vice President Sara Duterte claimed on Monday.
“It’s not only flood control. Martin Romualdez is also receiving money from illegal gambling,” she told reporters after she faced the Senate finance subcommittee which deliberated on the proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President. The panel swiftly approved the P902.895-million budget in less than an hour.
At the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Sept. 25, Orly Regala Guteza, who said he used to be one of the security personnel for Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, testified that he delivered suitcases full of cash to the homes of his boss and Romualdez. The money was supposedly their cut from flood control projects.
According to Duterte, she was not surprised by talks of cash deliveries to Romualdez.
“It’s not odd for Martin Romualdez because he was already involved in heavy luggages [sic] regarding the Okada case. If you remember it correctly, there is a case in the state of Delaware in the US in which he was named […] as allegedly receiving cash stashed in luggage,” Duterte further said.
She was referring to claims that the former House speaker was allegedly bribed by the management of Okada Manila to influence local courts amid a courtroom battle.
Reacting to the allegations, Romualdez maintained that he never accepted anything from illegal gambling.
Pure fiction
“I heard the accusations. I will directly say this: it is not true that I received anything from illegal gambling. These stories about ‘suitcases of cash’ are pure fiction. A figment of their imagination. It’s easy to point fingers—but the truth is that they cannot prove it. Until today, there is no evidence shown—only hearsay evidence being repeated by people,” he said in a statement.
“With the Okada/Delaware issue, it is clear: I am not part of it, I was not investigated, and I am not an accused in the case. I have no involvement in that case, which is a fight between two businesses. It is being resurrected to destroy my reputation,” Romualdez said.
According to him, it is saddening that the Vice President herself, who has been accused of the improper use of hundreds of millions of pesos worth of confidential funds, is now spreading lies.
