> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.wwconemedia.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Marcos Had ‘Zero Intervention’ in Cousin Martin Romualdez’s Arrest, Palace Says - URL: https://www.wwconemedia.com/marcos-had-zero-intervention-in-cousin-martin-romualdezs-arrest-palace-says/ - Published: 2026-09-09T00:47:56.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-09T00:47:56.000Z - Author: WWC NEWSDESK - Tags: ASIA, PHILIPPINES, POLITICS **MANILA, Philippines —** President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had **“zero intervention”** in the arrest and detention of his cousin, former House Speaker **Martin Romualdez**, Malacañang said as the high-profile flood-control corruption case enters a critical stage. The Palace position comes after Romualdez was arrested on **September 7, 2026**, following the issuance of a warrant by the **Sandiganbayan** in connection with a **₱7.4-billion plunder case**. The arrest is particularly significant because Romualdez is not only a former powerful congressional leader but also a cousin and longtime political ally of Marcos. Yet the administration insists the President did not attempt to stop the arrest, influence law enforcement or secure special treatment for his relative. ## Palace: Marcos did not intervene Malacañang said Marcos did not interfere in the legal proceedings against Romualdez. That position is important because the President has repeatedly faced questions about whether his political connections could affect the government's expanding investigation into alleged corruption surrounding flood-control projects. The latest reporting from ABS-CBN states that Marcos **did not intervene to stop his cousin's arrest**. The administration's position is consistent with Marcos' public commitment to allow the investigation to proceed even when politically powerful individuals are implicated. ## Romualdez arrested in ₱7.4-billion plunder case Romualdez was arrested after the anti-graft court issued a warrant connected to allegations involving a massive flood-control corruption scheme. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors allege that **₱7.4 billion** was diverted through various transactions connected to flood-control projects. The broader investigation involves nearly **10,000 flood-control projects worth more than ₱545 billion** that have come under scrutiny since Marcos assumed office in 2022\. Investigators have said some projects were allegedly overpriced, substandard or never constructed. Romualdez has denied wrongdoing. The allegations have not been proven in court. ## From powerful House leader to accused in a corruption case The arrest represents a dramatic fall for Romualdez, who previously wielded enormous influence as Speaker of the House of Representatives. His political relationship with Marcos has also made the case especially sensitive. Romualdez is the President's cousin, meaning the government's decision to pursue the case has become a test of whether the administration will actually allow its own political network to face legal scrutiny. For Malacañang, the answer is apparently yes. The message is that family ties should not automatically translate into protection from the law. ## Romualdez was hospitalized after his arrest After authorities served the warrant, Romualdez was taken into custody but was subsequently hospitalized because of health concerns. Interior Secretary **Jonvic Remulla**, who helped oversee the serving of the warrant, said Romualdez would eventually be transferred to a detention facility once doctors determine that he is medically fit. The Associated Press reported that Romualdez was hospitalized after experiencing health problems, including unstable blood pressure and an anxiety attack. The detention arrangement has since become another point of public attention. Authorities have emphasized that hospitalization does not erase the arrest warrant. ## The government says wealth and influence will not provide immunity The arrest has become a symbolic moment in the administration's flood-control investigation. Jonvic Remulla has stressed that Romualdez cannot use wealth or influence to avoid the consequences of a valid court order. That position reflects the government's broader attempt to portray the investigation as a campaign against corruption regardless of political status. But the government's credibility will ultimately depend on whether the same standard is consistently applied to everyone implicated in the scandal. ## The flood-control scandal keeps expanding Romualdez is only one of several prominent figures caught up in the investigation. Former Ako Bicol party-list representative **Zaldy Co**, who is currently outside the Philippines, has also been identified by authorities as a major figure in the broader allegations. Co faces an arrest warrant in connection with an alleged anomalous flood-control project and has denied wrongdoing. The government has been attempting to coordinate internationally to locate him and pursue his return to the Philippines. Other politicians, contractors and former government officials have also been linked to investigations surrounding alleged irregularities in flood-control spending. The scale is enormous. The AP reported that projects worth more than **₱545 billion** are under scrutiny, illustrating why the controversy has become one of the most consequential corruption investigations of the Marcos administration. ## Why the President's alleged non-intervention matters The political stakes are difficult to overstate. If Marcos had intervened to protect Romualdez, critics could have argued that the flood-control investigation was selective or politically controlled. By allowing the arrest to proceed, the administration can instead argue that the legal process is operating independently. But simply allowing one arrest does not settle the larger question. The public will still be watching whether investigations reach **all individuals who may have benefited from the alleged scheme**, regardless of their political connections. That includes people inside and outside the current administration. ## A powerful test for Marcos' anti-corruption campaign The flood-control controversy has placed Marcos in a difficult position. The alleged corruption involves projects implemented during his presidency, meaning the administration faces pressure not only to prosecute individuals but also to explain how such a large network of questionable projects was able to operate. The arrest of Romualdez could therefore become a defining moment. If prosecutors successfully establish the allegations in court, the case could demonstrate that political influence does not guarantee immunity. If the investigation stalls or appears selective, however, questions about political protection could return with even greater force. ## What happens next? Romualdez's arrest is only the beginning of the judicial process. An arrest and plunder charge do **not** mean the accused has been found guilty. The prosecution still has to prove its case in court, while Romualdez retains the right to defend himself against the allegations. His medical condition and eventual transfer to detention will also remain closely watched. Meanwhile, investigators are expected to continue examining the broader flood-control network and identifying other individuals who may have participated in or benefited from alleged irregularities. ### The bigger question For now, Malacañang's position is unequivocal: **Marcos did not intervene to stop his cousin's arrest.** But the real test will extend far beyond one arrest. Can the administration demonstrate that the same rule will apply to **every politician, contractor and official** implicated in the flood-control investigation? Romualdez's arrest has already shown that even a powerful political connection does not necessarily prevent legal action. Now the country will be watching to see **where the investigation goes next—and how high it ultimately reaches.** WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D