In the Philippines, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is asking for temporary freedom. On Monday his lawyers filed a bail petition with the Sandiganbayan's Third Division, shortly after noon, in the plunder case tied to the flood control corruption scandal. Prosecutors allege he received about 7.44 billion pesos in kickbacks from infrastructure projects between 2022 and 2025.
Plunder is normally non-bailable, so the defense must argue the evidence is not strong. Their 67-page filing says the case rests on a chain of inferences, points to witnesses who later recanted, and stresses he is no flight risk because he has cooperated with the court. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in a Quezon City jail. Hearings begin October 12 and will run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with prosecutors planning 23 witnesses. Romualdez is a cousin of President Marcos Jr., which explains the intense attention. Watch what the judges decide.
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