Romualdez plunder case raffled to Sandiganbayan Third Division

September 7, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division will handle the P7.4 billion plunder case filed against Leyte Rep. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez and three others.

The case was raffled to the division after its filing on Monday.

The division is expected to assess the case and determine if arrest warrants will be issued

The Third Division is also handling the plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over his receipt of P75 million, and the malversation case against former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in connection with his alleged receipt of kickbacks from a flood control project.

The division had granted bail to Revilla.

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a motion seeking the recusal of one of the Third Division justices, Justice Ronald Moreno, from the Revilla case.

The prosecution cited his court remarks as allegedly showing that he had prejudged the Revilla case and disrespected witnesses, adding that his questions made him appear more like a defense counsel for Revilla.

Moreno was one of two justices who voted to grant bail to Revilla.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, asked about Romualdez’s case being raffled to the Third Division, said the Supreme Court would have to do something about this, calling it a “dilemma of our justice system.”

“The Supreme Court has plenary power over this. They can actually change it when they see that it is not right to keep the same people there or maybe one or two of them,” Remulla said in a press briefing.