The Office of the Ombudsman is considering the filing of a civil forfeiture case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
In an interview with ANC on Monday, Remulla disclosed that the anti-graft office is exploring the legal action, which would allow the government to seize assets allegedly acquired through unlawful means without the need for a criminal conviction.
The move follows allegations of “gross criminal neglect” or “gross neglect” tied to Romualdez’s oversight of infrastructure projects and budget allocations during his tenure as Speaker.
According to Remulla, the Ombudsman—led by his brother, Samuel “Boying” Remulla—is determined to pursue the case. This development comes amid a broader investigation into alleged “ghost” flood control projects and multi-billion peso “insertions” in the national budget.
The former Speaker has previously denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his conscience is clear and that no “credible evidence” has linked him to irregularities. His legal team has maintained that recommendations from investigative bodies do not constitute a determination of guilt and that they will await the Ombudsman’s formal findings.
The potential civil forfeiture case would be based on Republic Act No. 1379, or the Forfeiture Law, which empowers the state to recover properties found to be out of proportion to a public official’s lawful income.
The investigation has also implicated other high-ranking officials and contractors, marking one of the most significant anti-corruption probes of 2025.