Will the Supreme Court Put an End to Romualdez’s Budget Corruption and Dynastic Impunity in the Philippines?
By Atty. Arnedo S. Valera
I am proud of my Ateneo Law School classmate, Chief Justice Alex Gesmundo, and all our Supreme Court luminaries—including my dear friend Justice Ben Caguioa—that they will soon make the right decision. The Philippine Supreme Court is our last bulwark of democracy, fully independent and composed of legal scholars and experts.
The Philippines is once again at the crossroads of political accountability and dynastic dominance. At the center of the storm is House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who now faces mounting allegations of budget corruption, bribery, and systematic abuse of power—casting a long shadow over the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the democratic institutions meant to uphold fiscal integrity.
₱241 Billion and the Subversion of the Budget Process
Earlier this year, former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, backed by members of the Duterte coalition, filed a corruption complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against Romualdez and five other lawmakers. At issue: an alleged ₱241 billion post-bicameral budget insertion made after Congress had finalized and ratified the 2025 GAA.
If proven, this act would constitute a blatant violation of constitutional procedures and a manipulation of public funds for private or political gain. The insertions—said to be lodged into “unprogrammed appropriations”—evade the normal scrutiny of deliberation, effectively placing billions of pesos into a political black hole. Vice President Sara Duterte herself described the scandal as “not just corruption—but a complete perversion of budgetary governance.”
The Supreme Court has already issued an order requiring Romualdez to respond to a petition filed by Mindoro Occidental Rep. Leody Tarriela questioning the legality of these insertions. Should the Court rule these moves unconstitutional, major portions of the 2025 GAA may be nullified—triggering a constitutional and political crisis.
Bribery, Cronyism, and the Okada Luggage Scandal
Adding weight to the gravity of the situation is the unresolved bribery allegation against Romualdez in U.S. courts. In a 2022 Delaware Chancery Court case, Japanese casino magnate Kazuo Okada’s firm accused Romualdez of receiving “heavy luggage” with an undisclosed “item”—allegedly a bribe—in exchange for influencing a Philippine Supreme Court decision favoring Okada’s reinstatement to Okada Manila.
Romualdez refused to appear before the Delaware court and issued no official denial. While the case was closed on procedural grounds, the bribery allegations remain neither disproven nor judicially addressed—casting a dark cloud over the integrity of the highest lawmaker in the country.
This pattern of avoiding scrutiny while operating from the shadows of international transactions is emblematic of a broader trend of dynastic impunity in the Philippines.
The Romualdez Dynasty and the Breakdown of Democratic Institutions
The Romualdez family’s consolidation of political and economic influence is no secret. From Imelda Marcos to her descendants, the family has built a formidable network of patronage and political power that now includes control over the House of Representatives, media influence, and key economic players.
This dynastic capture of political institutions has resulted in:
Non-transparent budget allocations
Unanswered allegations of foreign bribery
Weaponization of the speakership for political vendettas
Erosion of checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches
Civil society and the public are justified in demanding answers, not only for the alleged corruption but also for the broader degradation of institutional integrity.
What Must Be Done
Immediate Independent Audit – A full forensic audit of the 2025 GAA is imperative, led by the Commission on Audit (COA) and including civil-society and international anti-corruption monitors.
Full Disclosure and Public Testimony – Speaker Romualdez must publicly disclose the nature of the ₱241 billion in question and address the Okada bribery allegations in a forum that meets the standards of due process and transparency.
Legislative Reform – Congress must enact reforms to insulate the budget process from the discretion of individual powerbrokers, including tighter restrictions on unprogrammed appropriations and post-ratification amendments.
Judicial Action – The Supreme Court’s pending review of the budget-insertion case must be resolved with legal independence and moral courage. A ruling that ignores this scandal will reinforce public cynicism toward the rule of law.
Anti-Dynasty Provisions – This crisis renews the call for Congress to finally implement the anti-dynasty mandate of the 1987 Constitution. No democracy can survive under the chokehold of entrenched familial rule.
A Defining Moment for Accountability
The allegations against Speaker Martin Romualdez are not just political fireworks—they are a referendum on the survival of Philippine democracy. If billions can be inserted into the national budget in the dead of night, and if foreign bribery allegations can be shrugged off with impunity, then the constitutional architecture of checks and balances ceases to function.
As Filipino citizens, we must demand answers, transparency, and accountability—not merely as observers of political theater, but as co-owners of the Republic.
This is not just about one Speaker. This is about whether the Filipino people still command their democracy—or whether they have quietly surrendered it to a ruling class with no accountability and no shame.
Atty. Arnedo S. Valera is the managing attorney at Valera & Associates, a U.S. immigration and anti-discrimination law firm for over 32 years. He holds a master’s degree in International Affairs, International Law, and Human Rights from Columbia University; trained at the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France; obtained his Bachelor of Laws from Ateneo de Manila University; earned an AB-Philosophy from the University of Santo Tomas; and teaches International Security and Alliances at the San Beda Graduate School of Law (LL.M. Program)
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