MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has rejected claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. betrayed his cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as the political fallout from the massive flood-control scandal intensifies following Romualdez’s arrest and the filing of a P7.4-billion plunder case.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said accusations suggesting that Marcos turned against Romualdez or abandoned him politically should not be treated as established fact, particularly when they are based on speculation rather than evidence.
The issue has gained fresh attention as Romualdez, once one of Marcos’ closest political allies, now faces criminal proceedings before the Sandiganbayan.
Marcos and Romualdez: From political allies to opposing sides of a corruption case
Romualdez is not only Marcos’ cousin but was also a key political ally during the administration’s first years.
He served as House Speaker and played a major role in the administration’s legislative agenda before eventually leaving the speakership. His political standing changed dramatically as the government intensified its investigation into alleged irregularities involving billions of pesos in flood-control projects.
The Ombudsman has since charged Romualdez and three others with plunder involving P7.4 billion, alleging that they benefited from a kickback scheme connected to government flood-control projects.
Romualdez was arrested on September 7, 2026, after authorities served the warrant at Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where he was receiving medical treatment.
The arrest dramatically changed the political landscape surrounding the President’s relationship with his cousin.
Palace: Accountability applies even to Marcos’ relatives
Malacañang has repeatedly insisted that family ties will not shield anyone from investigation or prosecution.
Earlier, Castro said the President’s position was that anyone found accountable should face the consequences—whether that person is a relative, friend, political ally or political opponent.
That position has become particularly significant following Romualdez’s arrest.
The Palace has also emphasized that it respects the Ombudsman’s authority to investigate and file charges.
Importantly, the filing of a criminal case does not mean Romualdez has been found guilty. The allegations must still be tested in court, and Romualdez has denied wrongdoing.
Claims of betrayal circulate amid political fallout
The controversy over whether Marcos “betrayed” Romualdez comes amid a broader political narrative surrounding the collapse of several alliances in Philippine politics.
In June, Castro was asked about allegations that Romualdez had orchestrated the political rift between Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte and had allegedly betrayed political allies, including the President.
Castro rejected the narrative, warning against treating unsubstantiated political accusations as fact.
The Palace’s position is that political claims should be supported by evidence rather than speculation.
That distinction has become increasingly important as the flood-control investigation has generated competing allegations, counter-allegations and politically charged narratives.
The flood-control scandal changed everything
The controversy surrounding Romualdez is part of a much larger investigation into alleged corruption involving thousands of government flood-control projects.
The Associated Press reported that nearly 10,000 flood-control projects worth more than P545 billion have come under scrutiny, with investigators finding projects that were allegedly substandard, overpriced or never constructed.
The Ombudsman alleges that P7.4 billion was involved in the plunder case against Romualdez and his co-accused.
Authorities have said more cases could follow as investigators examine the broader network of alleged corruption.
President Marcos has publicly condemned the alleged corruption and has backed investigations into the flood-control projects, including cases involving people close to him. AP reported that Marcos has said he would not spare even relatives in efforts to pursue accountability.
Romualdez now faces the courts, not just political pressure
Romualdez’s arrest has moved the controversy from the political arena into the judicial system.
The Sandiganbayan has scheduled a September 10 hearing to determine whether Romualdez should remain under hospital arrest because of his medical condition.
Authorities have been preparing for the possibility of transferring him to government custody once doctors determine that he is medically fit.
This means the question surrounding Marcos’ relationship with Romualdez is no longer simply political.
It now intersects with a criminal proceeding involving billions of pesos in alleged public-fund losses.
Another layer: the Sara Duterte connection
The dispute also unfolds against the backdrop of the bitter political split between Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Duterte and Marcos were running mates in the 2022 elections before their alliance collapsed. The Vice President has since faced impeachment proceedings and a separate criminal case stemming from her alleged threats against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Romualdez.
A Philippine court ordered Duterte arrested earlier this month over three counts of grave threats, although she denies the accusations and posted bail.
The developments involving Duterte and Romualdez have therefore become intertwined in the country’s increasingly bitter political struggle.
What happens to the Marcos-Romualdez relationship now?
For years, Marcos and Romualdez were viewed as politically aligned relatives who formed a powerful partnership in Malacañang and Congress.
Now, Romualdez is facing a major plunder case while the Marcos administration insists that investigators and prosecutors must follow the evidence.
The Palace’s rejection of the “betrayal” narrative therefore carries a broader message: the administration wants the Romualdez case framed as an accountability and judicial matter—not as a family feud.
But with Romualdez now under arrest, a P7.4-billion case before the Sandiganbayan and a high-profile hearing approaching, the political consequences are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
The question that remains is whether this is simply the end of a political alliance—or the beginning of an even bigger reckoning inside the Marcos camp.
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