The Office of the Ombudsman’s Special Panel of Investigators has filed a supplemental complaint-affidavit seeking to include additional respondents in its complaint involving former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and several others over alleged offenses that include plunder, bribery, graft, and money laundering.

Based on the 104-page supplemental complaint-affidavit, docketed as OMB-C-C-APR-26-0044 and received by the Ombudsman’s Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office (PAMO) II on July 20, the panel cited newly obtained documentary and testimonial evidence gathered after the filing of the original complaint on April 20.

The complaint covers alleged violations of Republic Act No. 7080 (Plunder Law), Articles 210 and 211 of the Revised Penal Code on direct and indirect bribery, Sections 3(a) and 3(b) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), and Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering Act), as amended.

In the supplemental complaint, the panel recalled that it had earlier prayed for the filing of informations against Romualdez and Elizaldy “Zaldy” S. Co over their alleged acquisition of approximately P56 billion in ill-gotten wealth from 2022 to 2025.

“An Information be filed against Respondents FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ and ELIZALDY ‘ZALDY’ S. CO, in relation to their concerted and coordinated acts, performed in conspiracy with one another, of unlawfully amassing, accumulating, and acquiring ill-gotten wealth amounting to approximately P56,000,000,000.00 from 2022 to 2025, through a series of interrelated transactions involving the diversion and misuse of public funds and the receipt of undue pecuniary benefits in connection with government dealings,” it stated.

The panel also reiterated its prayer for the filing of charges for plunder, direct bribery, violations of Sections 3(a) and 3(b) of Republic Act No. 3019, indirect bribery against Romualdez, and money laundering against Romualdez and Jose Raulito E. Paras.

According to the supplemental complaint, additional evidence was discovered after the original complaint was filed.

“Subsequent to the filing of the Complaint, the Complainants obtained additional documentary and testimonial evidence material to the matters alleged therein.”

The panel said the newly discovered evidence supplements the allegations involving the alleged delivery of cash to Romualdez.

“The newly discovered evidence supplements and corroborates the allegations in the Complaint concerning the delivery of large sums of cash to Romualdez,” it said.

It added that the evidence allegedly traced a substantial portion of the money to collections linked to government projects.

“In particular, the said evidence establishes that a substantial portion of the cash delivered originated from the ‘commitments’ collected in connection with government projects and provides further details regarding the manner, frequency, and circumstances surrounding such deliveries, as well as the persons involved therein.”

Likewise, the complaint alleged that investigators uncovered evidence indicating that several corporate entities were allegedly used as conduits for the diversion and disposition of public funds.

“The additional evidence likewise reveals, among others, that several corporate entities appear to have been utilized as conduits for the diversion and disposition of substantial amounts of public funds through the abuse of public office and the use of dummies, nominees, and closely held corporations,” it read.

It added that these entities were allegedly used “to acquire, hold, transfer, conceal, and obscure assets beneficially owned or controlled by Romualdez and his associates.”

Moreover, the supplemental complaint seeks to include additional respondents who were not named in the original complaint.

“The developments in the investigation and the additional documentary and testimonial evidence obtained subsequent to the filing of the Complaint warrant the inclusion of additional respondents who were not impleaded therein,” it said.

“As discussed in greater detail below, the evidence demonstrates that SAMCHAN FOREIGN EXCHANGE CORPORATION, through its Board of Directors, LUISITO O. CHAN, FELICITO C. GUEVARRA, YOLANDA P. CRUDO, GIL A. PANGANIBAN, JR., and DIOSA MIRA C. CHAN, together with JOCELYN SEREÑO, JOHN DOES and JANE DOES (i.e., household personnel whose identities are presently unknown), HERMOGENE H. REAL, and D.S. TANTUICO & ASSOCIATES have knowingly participated in, facilitated, or otherwise aided the laundering, concealment, transfer, conversion, and disposition of proceeds derived from the unlawful activities alleged in the Complaint.”

Consequently, the panel prayed that they also be included as respondents for alleged violation of Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act.