MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman is set to file a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero in connection with alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

“We have been zealously preparing a case of plunder case against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former SP Chiz Escudero. There’s conspiracy involved,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said during a press briefing on Monday.

“This [case] is flood control related in so many ways,” he added.

When asked about the timeline for filing, Remulla said the case is expected to be filed “within the month of May.”

Romualdez and Escudero have previously denied any involvement in the controversial flood control projects.

Since the launch of the flood control probe in September 2025, Ombudsman prosecutors have filed three batches of cases related to the investigations:

• Malversation and graft charges against resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and at least 15 others over the alleged P289-million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro;
• Malversation and graft charges against contractor Sarah Discaya and several others over the alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental; and
• Malversation and graft charges against former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., former DPWH Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez, and five others over the alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.