Vice President Sara Duterte has doubled down on her allegations against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, citing both court documents and witness testimony that purportedly connect him to the receipt of suitcases filled with cash.
In a strongly worded statement issued on September 30, 2025, Duterte confirmed that she believes reports about “heavy luggage” of money being delivered to Romualdez’s residence.
“Oo, sapagkat ito ay tugma sa mga napabalita na noong pagtanggap niya ng suhol,” Duterte said, responding to questions about whether she trusted the testimonies implicating the Leyte lawmaker.
Court documents cited
Duterte pointed to proceedings at the Delaware Chancery Court involving the corporate dispute over the Okada Manila casino. According to her, the court ruling in 26 Capital Corp v. Tiger Resort Asia LTD repeatedly mentioned Romualdez—no fewer than 17 times across several pages—as the “common friend” who allegedly intervened in transactions linked to the casino developer.
She highlighted that the ruling also referenced “heavy luggage” being delivered to Romualdez, which she said supports the sworn testimony of Sgt. Orly Regal Guteza, a former Marine who claimed to have witnessed weekly deliveries of cash-filled suitcases to the politician’s homes in Forbes Park and Bonifacio Global City.
Refuting “implausible” claims
Duterte dismissed the defense that the luggage contained only documents.
“These are not mere coincidences — they form a disturbing pattern,” she wrote, arguing that the repeated references in the U.S. court case add credibility to Guteza’s testimony.
She also linked the controversy to the broader flood control corruption scandal, stressing that Romualdez’s name “has surfaced time and again whenever questions of corruption are raised.”
Criticism of Marcos’ judgment
The Vice President further criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for continuing to back Romualdez, even after the Delaware ruling.
“Sadly, President Marcos continues to display this flawed judgment — by merely changing the leadership in both Houses of Congress, while keeping a stranglehold on the flood-control probe,” Duterte said. She argued that the newly created Commission on Infrastructure, touted as independent, is effectively under Malacañang’s control.
Political backdrop
Duterte’s statement comes amid an escalating war of words between her and Romualdez. In recent days, she has accused him not only of benefitting from anomalous flood control projects but also of receiving kickbacks from illegal gambling operations, charges Romualdez has branded as “pure fiction” and part of a smear campaign.
