FACT-CHECK: Fake memorial photo of Martin Romualdez spreads on Facebook

admin 3:19 AM
CLAIM: Rep. Martin Romualdez of Leyte, the former House speaker, passed away on Sept. 25, 2025.
 
RATING: FALSE

 

A pro-Duterte Facebook page posted a fake memorial photo of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, whose name has been dragged into the flood control corruption mess.

Flagged Content: The Facebook page posted a fake memorial photo of Romualdez with candles in the caption.

  • The uploader also used a “feeling sad” reaction and pinned the location to Tacloban, Leyte, Romualdez’s hometown.

Our Debunk: On Sept. 25, Romualdez released a statement on his official Facebook and Instagram accounts addressing the allegations made by former Ako Bicol Partylist security consultant Orly Regala Guteza during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control issue.

  • No official announcement has come from the House of Representatives regarding Romualdez’s supposed death.
  • A check of the official Facebook page of Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Romualdez also showed no announcement of her husband’s alleged death.

Rewind: During the Sept. 8 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya mentioned Romualdez’s name multiple times in their affidavit.

  • Romualdez quickly denied the accusations made against him through a Facebook statement on the same day, dismissing the Discayas’ allegation as false, malicious, and mere name-dropping.
  • On Sept. 17, Romualdez resigned as Speaker of the House, saying that he had nothing to hide.

Why we’re fact-checking this: As of writing, the fake memorial photo has drawn 53,240 reactions, 14,000 comments, and 3,620 shares on Facebook.

Spot the fake: Before sharing content on social media, always verify death claims about public officials through the official websites of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as on the verified social media pages of the government officials involved.  Leigh San Diego


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