President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used his 2026 State of the Nation Address to signal accountability for a flood-control scandal while naming his cousin as a target of investigation.
On July 27, Marcos announced that the Ombudsman was prepared to file cases against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez for alleged involvement in flood-control corruption. He stated, “Masakit man sa atin ito, kailangan nating gawin ang tama. Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Pangulo ako ng bayan.”
The Ombudsman began its preliminary investigation the next day into claims that Romualdez gained P56 billion in ill-gotten wealth. It ordered Romualdez and several associates to submit counter-affidavits.
Romualdez responded that it may be painful for his family but he respects the President’s statements. Critics described the move as selective justice, noting that other Marcos aides linked to the same scandal received lenient treatment.
