Photo credit: Congress PH

MANILA — Former House Speaker and current Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has forcefully denied new accusations linking him to alleged kickbacks from flood control projects, characterizing the testimony as a "complete fabrication" and "clearly political."

In a statement released on September 25, 2025, Romualdez directly addressed a witness's claims before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that "several pieces of luggage supposedly containing money" were delivered to a residence associated with him.

"I was deeply surprised to hear the allegation raised against me today," Romualdez said. He pointed out a significant contradiction in the testimony, noting that the witness claimed deliveries began in December 2024 at his McKinley property, a claim he dismissed as impossible. "That property has been under renovation since January 2024 and was unoccupied except for construction workers," he stated, adding, "False in one thing, false in everything."

Romualdez reiterated his innocence, affirming, "I repeat: I have never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project."

He also stressed that his earlier resignation as Speaker on September 17, 2025, was a voluntary move made "precisely to demonstrate my full support for the inquiry into flood control issues."

While stating he had previously "remained silent out of respect for the process," the congressman declared a firm intention to fight back against the renewed claims, promising to do so "not with rhetoric, but with evidence."

Romualdez concluded with a direct message to the public: "To the Filipino people, I give you this solemn assurance: I will never betray your trust." The new allegations surface as investigations into billions of pesos worth of anomalous flood control projects continue to shake the country's legislative and public works sectors.