(File Photo)
TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte Rep. Ana Victoria Veloso-Tuazon said she is praying for fellow Leyte lawmaker and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez as he faces a P7.44-billion plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.
Veloso-Tuazon, who represents Leyte’s third congressional district, said she considers Romualdez a supportive colleague who has looked after the interests of Eastern Visayas lawmakers.
“I pray for him. I view him as very kind and always on the lookout for Eastern Visayas legislators,” Veloso-Tuazon said in an interview.
She said both she and Romualdez, being lawyers, understand the importance of following the law as he confronts the criminal case.
“We are lawyers; we understand what it is to be law-abiding citizens,” she said.
The Ombudsman filed the plunder case against Romualdez and three others on Sept. 7, accusing them of receiving commissions, shares, kickbacks and other financial benefits totaling at least P7.44 billion in connection with government projects implemented from 2022 to 2025.
Also charged were former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Romualdez’s former personal aide Joselyn Tragua Sereño, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp.
Prosecutors alleged that the money came from contractors and other entities involved in flood control, infrastructure and other government projects.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division later issued warrants of arrest against Romualdez and his co-accused after finding probable cause based on the prosecution’s records.
The court stressed that the issuance of arrest warrants does not establish guilt and that the accused remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Romualdez was initially arrested while confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City before being transferred to the Philippine General Hospital for an independent medical examination.
On Sept. 14, the Sandiganbayan ordered his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas after government doctors determined that he was stable and no longer needed acute-care hospital confinement.
Romualdez, a lawyer and incumbent representative of Leyte’s first congressional district, is a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Palace has said the administration respects the Ombudsman’s case and that anyone found accountable should face the consequences regardless of whether the person is a relative, friend, political ally or opponent.
Despite Romualdez’s legal troubles, Veloso-Tuazon said lawmakers continue to perform their legislative and constituency duties.
“We are still doing our work as legislators regardless of what is being said, and restore faith in the legislative system. Maybe the people understand that much has to be done and we rise to the occasion,” she said.
Recent OCTA Research findings showed that 38% of adult Filipinos expressed trust in the House of Representatives during the second quarter of 2026, up from 36% in the first quarter.
The same survey found that 64% of respondents said their own district representative was doing a good job representing their constituency, while 27% disagreed and 9% were undecided.
Romualdez’s congressional office in Tacloban City continues to operate and provide assistance to constituents of Leyte’s first district, which includes Tacloban City and seven municipalities.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
