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Philippine lawmaker pleads not guilty to taking kickbacks in flood control projects
The anti-graft court said the case will proceed to trial after Romualdez denied allegations that he received kickbacks in the flood control scheme.
- On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez pleaded not guilty to plunder charges involving the misuse of 7.4 billion pesos in public funds related to flood control projects.
- Nearly 10,000 flood control projects worth more than $9 billion came under scrutiny after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos described the alleged corruption as "horrible" when exposing the scandal last year.
- Authorities arrested Romualdez last week while hospitalized, then transferred him to the New Quezon City Jail after doctors deemed him stable enough for detention within the week.
- With the not-guilty plea entered, the case moves to trial; Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced additional charges, including money laundering, will be filed against Romualdez.
- The graft scandal has paralyzed government spending and dragged Philippine economic growth to its weakest pace since 2009, prompting ongoing investigations into other powerful legislators and executives.
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GMA Filipino News
GMA Filipino NewsRomualdez pleads not guilty in P7.4 billion plunder case
Leyte representative and former speaker Martin Romualdez has pleaded not guilty to plunder charges over his alleged P7.4-billion kickbacks from flood control projects.
·Taguig, Philippines (the)
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Associated Press News+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
Philippine lawmaker pleads not guilty to taking kickbacks in flood control projects
A Philippine lawmaker and former speaker of the House of Representatives is denying allegations he pocketed millions of dollars in kickbacks from flood control projects.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources22
Leaning Left10Leaning Right3Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 35%
15%
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