Quezon City, Philippines — House speaker Martin Romualdez and other house leaders are now facing numerous counts of graft charges and falsification raps over alleged “blank insertions” in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Known Duterte allies former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, PDP-Laban senatorial bet Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Citizens Crime Watch president Diego Magpantay, and Atty. Virgilio Garcia filed on Monday the charges against Romualdez and 5 others, citing alleged anomalies in the 2025 national budget.
Along Romualdez are House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, former House appropriations committee chairperson and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, acting House appropriations panel chairperson Stella Quimbo, as well as two John Does who are said to be involved in the alleged unauthorized insertion of P241 billion in the GAA.
Under the complaint, the 6 individuals are facing 12 counts of falsification of legislative documents and 12 counts of violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act each.
“Wherefore, it is most respectfully prayed that the corresponding information for 12 counts of Falsification of Legislative Documents or violation of Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as 12 counts of violations of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 be filed against the respondents with the appropriate court,” the complaint said.
The complainants argued that P241 billion is a huge amount of blank insertions to be called as a mere typographical error, especially that it concerns the national budget.
Meanwhile, Topacio clarified that there is no political motivation behind the charges, and is not a deviation strategy amid Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment.
It can recalled that before the session break on Wednesday, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte from her post.