Palace downplays ex-Speaker Romualdez’s remarks on Executive’s role in flood mess

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. does not feel blamed by his cousin, former Speaker Ferdinand R. Martin G. Romualdez, after the lawmaker invoked “command responsibility” over the flood control scam, the Palace said on Thursday.

In a briefing, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said Mr. Marcos did not feel alluded to by Mr. Romualdez’s statement that accountability falls on the Executive branch.

“The President doesn’t see it that way because,” she said in Filipino, responding to the lawmaker’s video message on Tuesday.

“First of all, in 2025, when he saw that there were anomalies, he was the one who ordered an investigation.”

While the Palace can do little to address why the former Speaker sees himself as a scapegoat, Ms. Castro said the government may benefit from his involvement in ongoing investigations in the multibillion kickback scheme.

“What former Speaker Martin Romualdez feels is beyond our scope,” she said. “If the investigation would benefit from the former Speaker himself, the government, the President would prefer that so that those who should be held accountable are held accountable,” she added.

Despite this, Ms. Castro said she has never seen the cousins talk to each other since she was appointed as spokesperson in February 2025.

STILL IN PHL

Also on Thursday, the camp of Leyte Rep. Mr. Romualdez denied reports that he had fled the country following the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) by the Sandiganbayan upon the request of the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a video statement, Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, the ex-Speaker’s spokesman, said Mr. Romualdez remains in the Philippines and has not left the country. “We categorically clarify: Rep. Romualdez is in the Philippines and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,” he said.

Mr. Fajardo also acknowledged the reported issuance of a PHDO against Mr. Romualdez but said the congressman has complied with proper legal processes. He added that Mr. Romualdez secured the necessary travel authority and coordinated in good faith with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration.

He further said the travel was for a brief, previously scheduled four-day medical check-up in Singapore.

“This is fully consistent with his conduct from the very beginning — one of cooperation, transparency, and respect for legal processes. Unfortunately, this legitimate act has been twisted to create a prejudicial narrative that he intended to flee,” Mr. Fajardo added.

Mr. Fajardo added that their legal team will pursue all appropriate remedies to challenge the issuance of the order before the proper forum. He said Mr. Romualdez remains prepared to face the allegations against him.

ZALDY CO’S RETURN

Meanwhile, Ms. Castro said the Philippine government’s next steps in the repatriation process of former lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” S. Co, who is implicated in the same scandal as Mr. Romualdez, hinge on ongoing negotiations with the Czech Republic.

“It depends… what our country’s action will be, depending on any agreement reached with the Czech Republic and what the method will be for bringing Zaldy Co back,” she said.

Mr. Co is detained in Prague after being caught illegally crossing into the country without proper documentation.

A high-level delegation, led by Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida, is on its way to Prague for further talks. He is joined by Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin L. Chan.

“If we’re talking about the Philippines only, we’re definitely confident,” she said. “Since there are other countries involved in this, let’s just hope that Zaldy Co can be brought back to our country soon.”

Manila and Prague have no standing extradition treaty.

In a message to reporters via Viber, Justice spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said the mission seeks to open formal dialogue and explore “all available legal avenues,” to facilitate Mr. Co’s return.

“These legal avenues include, but are not limited to: deportation, extradition, and the invocation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, to which both the Philippines and the Czech Republic are signatories,” he said.

“We wish to remind the public that while the government is committed to pursuing every legitimate legal remedy, the timeline and modality of Co’s return remain subject to ongoing discussions and the applicable processes under Czech and international law,” he added.

Mr. Co is wanted by the Sandiganbayan for graft and malversation over an alleged anomalous road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The former House Appropriations Committee chair was widely pointed to the massive graft scandal that rocked the Philippines in 2025, causing the country’s economic growth to slow down amid low public and investor confidence. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Pexcel John Bacon and Erika Mae P. Sinaking