The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday, September 7, issued arrest warrants for former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte First District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
Two other co-accused – Jocelyn Sereño, a member of Romualdez’s household staff, and money changer Felecito Guevarra – were also included in the arrest warrants.
The four were charged with plunder in connection with an alleged PHP7.4-billion “kickback” scheme involving flood-control and other government projects. The cases were filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday.
In a statement, the court said: “The issuance of a warrant of arrest signifies only that, after personally evaluating the records, the Court found probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged.”
However, the court stressed that the issuance of the arrest warrants does not “constitute a determination of guilt.”
The accused are still presumed innocent “until their guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt after a full and impartial trial.”
Aside from the arrest warrants, the court also issued hold departure orders against the four.
‘Biggest fish’ caught yet
The Office of the Ombudsman officially filed the PHP7.4-billion plunder case against Romualdez, Co, and the two other accused on Monday, 11 months after it began investigating anomalies involving alleged ghost flood-control projects across the country.
According to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, the investigation took that long because the agency did not want to file half-baked cases.
He said that by the time the cases were filed, investigators were confident they had built a strong case.
When asked whether he considered Romualdez a “big fish,” Remulla did not hesitate to agree.
He also said more cases could still be filed, including charges related to bribery and money laundering, against other alleged “big fish,” including Senator Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, who are both currently abroad for medical reasons.
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Remulla to talk to French authorities
During a press conference following the filing of the case, Remulla disclosed that he is set to travel to France, where he plans to meet with officials from the French Ministry of Justice and other concerned government agencies.
Asked about the objective of the meetings, Remulla said he plans to tell French authorities that it is not good for France to become a hiding place for individuals allegedly involved in ill-gotten wealth.
Remulla said Co is currently hiding in France. Legarda and Leviste are also currently in the European country.
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