Romualdez Not Arrested in United States, Reports Clarify

Former House Speaker Romualdez Not Arrested by Trump Administration Despite Online Claims

A misleading video claiming that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was arrested in the United States by the Trump administration has been circulating online, attracting thousands of views despite having no factual basis. The false information appears to be part of a broader disinformation campaign amid ongoing investigations into alleged flood control project anomalies in the Philippines.

The YouTube channel “Political PH TV” published a video on January 27 with the sensational title “Heto na! Tamba, arestado na? Hinuli ni Trump sa Amerika? Deserve!” (Here it is! Tamba has been arrested? Captured by Trump in America? Deserve!). The thumbnail featured manipulated images showing former President Donald Trump holding what appears to be an arrest warrant alongside Romualdez depicted in an orange prison uniform.

No credible news organizations have reported such an arrest, and neither the U.S. nor Philippine governments have issued any statements confirming the claim. The video has nonetheless garnered over 24,000 views and nearly 2,000 likes, spreading false information during a sensitive time in Philippine politics.

The misleading content appears to have been triggered by legitimate reporting about Romualdez’s property acquisitions in the United States. Journalist Natashya Gutierrez recently revealed documents from New York City’s register office showing that Romualdez had purchased a luxury Manhattan property in 2024. This follows earlier reporting by Rappler in October 2025 that Romualdez had transferred a Massachusetts property worth $2.24 million, which he had purchased in 1988, to a corporation linked to him for just $1.

The property transfer occurred shortly before allegations of flood control anomalies were exposed in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address. While legal experts noted the transaction could potentially be considered a “fraudulent conveyance” if used to shield assets from creditors, this is entirely separate from the false arrest claims.

Romualdez’s legal status has indeed changed in recent months, but not in the manner suggested by the video. In October, the Department of Justice included him in an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order following his implication in the flood control scandal. This administrative measure merely monitors individuals’ movements and does not restrict travel or constitute an arrest.

Several arrests have been made in connection with the flood control scandal, but Romualdez is not among those detained. The public works department and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure have recommended filing plunder, graft, and bribery charges against him before the Office of the Ombudsman, but no criminal charges or arrest warrants have been issued against the former House speaker as of this writing.

Romualdez resigned as House speaker in September 2025 amid growing controversy. The situation intensified in late November when former lawmaker Zaldy Co accused both Romualdez and President Marcos of orchestrating large budget insertions and allegedly receiving millions in kickbacks. Romualdez has consistently denied these allegations, stating that his “conscience is clear.”

The false arrest claim appears to be part of a pattern of misinformation targeting political figures in the Philippines, particularly as investigations into alleged corruption continue to make headlines. Such fabricated stories can potentially influence public opinion and complicate efforts to maintain transparency in governance and accountability in high-profile cases.

Fact-checking organizations continue to monitor and debunk such false claims as they emerge in the Philippine information ecosystem, particularly as the flood control scandal investigations proceed through official channels.