Criminal raps readied vs Speaker Romualdez by Alvarez

Falsification charges are being prepared against House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Zaldy Co, and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe in connection with the controversial 2025 national budget.

The complaint will be filed by former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and PDP member Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, with the support of Citizen Crime Watch leaders Raul Lambino and Atty. Ferdie Topacio.

Alvarez emphasized that the case they are preparing “is not about politics.”

"Malinaw na sina Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co, at Dalipe ang may gawa nito," Alvarez said, referring to the "blank items" discovered in recent weeks in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2025, which was recently signed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

The group claimed that it was Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo who exposed the blanks in the bicameral conference committee report on the 2025 national budget.

"Sinabi ni Quimbo, ang Technical Working Group ang gumawa ng mga insertions base sa bicameral meetings. Tanong, meron bang journal [minutes] ng proceedings? Kailangan maimbestigahan ang TWG [members]. [Dapat] gumawa sila ng affidavit na sila ang nag-fill out sa mga blank ng budget na pirmado pa ng members," Lambino said.

(Quimbo said that the TWG made insertions based on the bicameral meetings. The question is, are there minutes from these meetings? The TWG members need to be investigated. They should sign an affidavit saying they filled out the blank items in the budget.)

Alvarez claimed that the insertions amount to P241 billion.

Topacio, meanwhile, suggested that the impeachment move against Vice President Sara Duterte was a diversion from the controversy surrounding the 2025 budget.

"Sa laki ng problema, sinulong nila ang impeachment (They are pushing for impeachment because of the size of their problem). P241 billion. In view of the amount involved, it is a crime against the Filipino people," Topacio said.

He added that he, Alvarez, and Citizen Crime Watch members would formally file falsification of legislative documents charges against Romualdez, Co, Dalipe, and members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Monday, 10 February.

Bondoc clarified that he joined the group not because of his PDP candidacy but as part of the party’s legal team.

"Hiwalay ito sa pagiging kandidato ko. We are fighting against corruption. The elements of falsification are all there. Ito ay para bigyan ng liwanag ang mga specific scheme of corruption. It is an unprecedented amount, kailangan malinaw yan," Bondoc said.

(This is separate from my candidacy... This is to bring light to this specific scheme of corruption.)

Alvarez also stressed that their case is entirely different from the petition currently before the Supreme Court, which seeks to declare the 2025 budget unconstitutional.

"Ours is a criminal case — falsification," Alvarez explained.

When asked if any congressmen had expressed support for the case, Alvarez admitted, “To be honest, ni isa wala pa sa ngayon (no one has yet joined me).”

"Mawawalan kasi sila ng AKAP, TUPAD, etc. Lone ranger ako dito," he added.

(They will lose access to the AKAP, TUPAD, etc. I am a 'Lone Ranger' here.)

Topacio, however, was quick to reassure Alvarez, saying, "History tells us, one man can make a difference."