MANILA, Philippines – September 5, 2025
House Speaker Martin Romualdez assured both the public and the business community on Friday that the House of Representatives will not tolerate corruption in any form, vowing to support investigations into alleged misconduct in government.
Romualdez issued the statement in response to a declaration from 30 of the country’s largest business organizations, which jointly denounced what they described as widespread graft, particularly within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units (LGUs), and even the Commission on Audit (COA).
“I welcome and respect the strong statement made by our partners in the business community and civil society calling for an end to corruption in government. Their concern echoes the very principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity that the House of Representatives has committed to uphold,” Romualdez said.
He emphasized that the lower chamber will never turn a blind eye to irregularities:
“Let me be clear: The House of the people will never condone corruption, whether in public works, local governance, or any other area of government service. Allegations of wrongdoing must be investigated thoroughly and addressed decisively.”
The Speaker added that he is fully supportive of independent reviews and impartial prosecutions, stressing that officials who betray public trust must be held accountable under the law.
Romualdez also highlighted reforms already enacted by the 20th Congress, particularly in the budget process, to strengthen public confidence and ensure transparency. “These reforms are not mere rhetoric—they are concrete actions designed to ensure that every peso in the national budget is allocated properly, spent prudently, and accounted for responsibly,” he said.
Meanwhile, the coalition of business groups acknowledged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent statements condemning corruption but urged that words be matched with independent investigations, prosecution of guilty officials, recovery of stolen funds, and imprisonment of those convicted.
“Our call, therefore, is not just to ‘moderate your greed.’ Our collective call to these corrupt officials is—please stop! Have mercy on the suffering people,” the groups stressed in their joint appeal.
Lawmakers in both chambers are currently probing questionable flood control projects, though concerns have surfaced about potential conflicts of interest, as some legislators themselves have been linked to contractors flagged for irregularities.
At the House, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon clarified that if their committee’s hearings uncover potential involvement of lawmakers, they are ready to defer to an independent third-party authority to avoid any conflict of interest.
