Marcos: Romualdez’ arrest over flood control mess not a political drama

September 14, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

The arrest of ex-Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez over the flood control mess is not a “political drama,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Sunday.

He made the remarks in a press briefing on Sunday in New Delhi, India where he was asked to comment on claims of special treatrment for Romualdez, his cousin.

In response, the President said detractors are just simply after to undermine his administration.

“It’s kind of may masabi, kailangan may masabi para insultuhin ka o to put you down, or sabihin mali ‘yung ginagawa mo,” Marcos said.

He went on: “Basta ang sasabihin basically pinapatunay nila na wala kang kwentang tao.”

He stressed that such remarks are not actual commentary on due process involving the charges against his cousin.

“They’re not commenting about. That’s not a comment on the procedures of court. It’s just another attack. We get them a lot,” he said.

In his State of the Nation Address in July, Marcos mentioned the charges to be filed against his cousin, as he stressed that everyone involved in corruption shall be held accountable regardless of personal or political ties to him.