House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. | PHOTO: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Office of the Ombudsman has denied the motion seeking to suspend House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other lawmakers over the alleged P241-billion insertions in the 2025 national budget.
In a 10-page resolution dated March 7, but was released to the media on Tuesday, March 11, the Ombudsman said it dismissed the motion filed by Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, and PDP-Laban senatorial candidate and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, among others, against Romualdez and the following lawmakers for 鈥渦tter paucity of merit鈥� or lack of merit:
- House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe
- Former House appropriations committee chairperson and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co
- Acting appropriations committee chair Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo
- Two individuals were referred to as 鈥淛ane Doe鈥� and 鈥淛ohn Doe鈥� in the complaint sheet
The Ombudsman also ordered the complaint be 鈥渟uspended鈥� and 鈥渉eld in abeyance鈥� until such time that the Supreme Court (SC) 鈥渉as resolved with finality鈥� the petition certiorari and prohibition filed by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, and others.
READ: Duterte allies seek suspension of 4 House leaders before Ombudsman
The petition lodged by Ungab and others asked the SC to declare Republic Act No. 12116, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2025, as 鈥渦nconstitutional.鈥�
鈥淎fter a careful reading of the complaint, I am convinced that the issues raised herein are closely intertwined, if not, intimately related to a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition that was earlier filed before the Supreme Court,鈥� the Ombudsman stated in the resolution.
鈥淭he Supreme Court must first resolve the issue of constitutionality before the criminal action pending before the Ombudsman will proceed. Whatsoever will be the resolution of the Supreme Court in the Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition would be determinative juris et de jure of the guilt or innocence of herein respondents in the criminal case before the Ombudsman,鈥� it added.
Alvarez filed the complaint against Romualdez and others last February 10, while the motion seeking the suspension of the lawmakers was lodged on February 19.
In the complaint, Alvarez and other allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that Romualdez, Dalipe, Co, and Quimbo violated Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification of legislative documents and Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
In explaining the grounds of the complaints, Topacio then explained that the alleged 鈥渋nsertions鈥� in the national budget reportedly occurred 12 times, based on the bicameral report.