NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
VP Duterte: 'Heavy Luggage' Claims Against Romualdez Are Credible
Photo credit: OVP
QUEZON CITY, September 30, 2025 — Vice President Sara Z. Duterte today publicly affirmed her belief in the latest allegations that large amounts of money, reportedly contained in suitcases, were delivered to the residence of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In a strong statement, the Vice President answered "Yes" when asked this morning if she believed the reports, asserting that the claim is consistent with the reported acceptance of a bribe by the Speaker.
Drawing on the Delaware Court Case
VP Duterte directly connected the current reports to past legal issues, noting that Romualdez's name has surfaced time and again whenever questions of corruption are raised.
She specifically cited evidence presented during the Delaware Court proceedings related to the Okada Manila casino, where he was allegedly the common friend used to intervene. The Vice President highlighted references in the court documents to "heavy luggage" brought to him as part of a questionable bargain.
Citing the ruling in 26 Capital Corp v Tiger Resort Asia LTD, the Vice President noted that Romualdez was mentioned 17 times. Critically, she pointed out that the Court refused to be swayed by the implausible claim that the 'heavy luggage' delivered to Martin Romualdez only contained documents.
'Disturbing Pattern'
The Vice President categorized these incidents as not mere coincidences and that they form a disturbing pattern. She stressed that this pattern lends credibility to the recent testimony from a Sergeant Orly Guteza about weekly deliveries of suitcases of cash to Romualdez.
Criticism of President Marcos Jr.
VP Duterte also took the opportunity to question the judgment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in maintaining Romualdez as Speaker of the House, especially after the Delaware Court ruling.
She argued that the President continues to display flawed judgment by merely changing the leadership in both houses of Congress while simultaneously attempting to control the flood-control probe through the creation of an supposedly Independent Commission on Infrastructure, which she believes is clearly under his control.
Concluding her statement with a sharp political forecast, the Vice President stated, "One day, the floodwaters of truth and accountability will flow all the way to Malacañan. And on that day, the Filipino people will finally decide that we deserve better."
In a strong statement, the Vice President answered "Yes" when asked this morning if she believed the reports, asserting that the claim is consistent with the reported acceptance of a bribe by the Speaker.
Drawing on the Delaware Court Case
VP Duterte directly connected the current reports to past legal issues, noting that Romualdez's name has surfaced time and again whenever questions of corruption are raised.
She specifically cited evidence presented during the Delaware Court proceedings related to the Okada Manila casino, where he was allegedly the common friend used to intervene. The Vice President highlighted references in the court documents to "heavy luggage" brought to him as part of a questionable bargain.
Citing the ruling in 26 Capital Corp v Tiger Resort Asia LTD, the Vice President noted that Romualdez was mentioned 17 times. Critically, she pointed out that the Court refused to be swayed by the implausible claim that the 'heavy luggage' delivered to Martin Romualdez only contained documents.
'Disturbing Pattern'
The Vice President categorized these incidents as not mere coincidences and that they form a disturbing pattern. She stressed that this pattern lends credibility to the recent testimony from a Sergeant Orly Guteza about weekly deliveries of suitcases of cash to Romualdez.
Criticism of President Marcos Jr.
VP Duterte also took the opportunity to question the judgment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in maintaining Romualdez as Speaker of the House, especially after the Delaware Court ruling.
She argued that the President continues to display flawed judgment by merely changing the leadership in both houses of Congress while simultaneously attempting to control the flood-control probe through the creation of an supposedly Independent Commission on Infrastructure, which she believes is clearly under his control.
Concluding her statement with a sharp political forecast, the Vice President stated, "One day, the floodwaters of truth and accountability will flow all the way to Malacañan. And on that day, the Filipino people will finally decide that we deserve better."
Sep 30, 2025
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