MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan’s 6th Division dismissed the government’s bid to claim around $5.19 million previously held in the Swiss bank accounts of the late ambassador Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez and his wife Juliette Gomez-Romualdez.

Kokoy, who died in 2022, was the father of former House speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez and sister to former first lady Imelda Marcos.

Swiss authorities turned over the money to the Philippine government in 1998 to be escrowed with the Philippine National Bank until a rightful owner could be decided.

In an 18-page resolution dated May 29, the anti-graft court denied state lawyers’ motion for reconsideration that sought to reverse the court’s dismissal of the claim back in March. The Sandiganbayan cited grounds of “judicial stability” or non-interference with a co-equal body.

According to the anti-graft court, the government’s petition would put it on a collision course with the Sandiganbayan’s 4th Division. The latter ordered back in October 2025 to release the entire amount to the Romualdez family because of the government’s failure to pursue its claim.

The 6th Division said it can’t take on the government’s case without first declaring that the 4th Division’s earlier ruling was incorrect.

“Clearly, in such event, this Court’s ruling would have the effect of setting aside the Fourth Division’s Resolution dated October 3, 2025, ordering the release of the subject escrowed funds to respondents Romualdez. But as this Court held in the assailed Resolution, the Sixth Division is co-equal with the Fourth Division, and has no authority to nullify the Fourth Division’s acts,” the decision read.

The Ombudsman filed a petition in 2011 seeking forfeiture of the funds in favor of the government. However, this was dismissed in 2018 since it was determined that the Ombudsman was not the proper authority to file the claims.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) refiled the petition in November, days after the Sandiganbayan 4th Division denied their motion for reconsideration on the release of the funds.

The anti-graft court’s 6th Division noted that the case has already been elevated to the Supreme Court through a petition for certiorari in January. – Rappler.com