00:00The Supreme Court allows the Office of the Ombudsman to continue its investigation into
00:04the plunder case of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The SC on Bank denies Romualdez's
00:09certiorari petition challenging the Ombudsman's preliminary investigation.
00:13A preliminary investigation is the stage when prosecutors review evidence and decide whether
00:18there is enough basis to file a case in court. His petition also questioned the agency's
00:23requests for a preliminary whole departure order and a freeze order, as well as its alleged use
00:27of inadmissible evidence. Romualdez is facing a corruption case due to alleged 7.44 billion
00:33pesos in kickbacks from contractors of government projects. The Supreme Court's decision does not
00:38mean Romualdez has been found guilty of plunder. Romualdez is the first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
