President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.used the opening of his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, 2026 to make one of his strongest public statements against his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.Marcos said that, based on information from the Office of the Ombudsman, multiple cases against the former speaker are close to being filed.

He stressed that although the situation is personally difficult because they are relatives, his responsibility is to serve the Filipino people rather than protect family members or political allies.The President declared that he is not the president of his family or his friends, but of the entire country.

The Ombudsman had earlier identified Romualdez as the central figure in an alleged multibillion-peso flood control corruption scheme, claiming that public funds intended for flood mitigation projects were diverted instead of being used to protect communities from recurring floods.The agency said it is pursuing plunder and money laundering cases and that the filing of charges is imminent.

Romualdez, once among Marcos' closest political allies and a frequent companion during foreign trips, stepped down as House Speaker in September 2025 after being linked to the national budget controversy.He and former appropriations chair Zaldy Co have faced criticism over their alleged involvement in the controversial 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Co, who is reportedly staying abroad, has accused both Romualdez and Marcos of orchestrating flood control kickbacks, an allegation both men have denied.

The developments signal a significant shift in the political relationship between Marcos and Romualdez while highlighting the administration's stated commitment to pursuing accountability in the ongoing corruption investigation.