Martin Romualdez, the powerful majority leader of the Philippines House of Representatives and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been linked to a ₱444.5-471.8 million ($7.8-8.3 million) villa in Spain through an investigative report that traces the property to a Singapore-registered corporate vehicle.
The investigation by Rappler connects Romualdez, who also serves as the representative for Leyte, to Villa Kabila—a sprawling 2,019-square-meter residence with at least 16 bedrooms and a large swimming pool in the exclusive Sotogrande enclave in Cadiz. The property sits on two adjoining lots totaling 3,976 square meters.
Records show Cecil Property Pte Ltd, a company incorporated in Singapore on January 10, 2024, purchased the villa just 20 days later on January 30, 2024. The use of a Singapore corporate entity—a common structure for wealthy Southeast Asians seeking privacy in overseas property transactions—complicates efforts to trace beneficial ownership.
Timing raises questions amid national disasters
The villa purchase occurred as the Philippines faced multiple natural disasters. Typhoon Tino struck in December 2024, followed by the catastrophic Liloan landslide in Leyte—Romualdez's own constituency—that buried entire communities.
Yet just days before the Rappler investigation published, Romualdez and his wife, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, drew public criticism for posting luxury travel photos from Dubai during the disaster response period. Social media erupted with images of the couple at high-end hotels while rescue operations continued in Leyte.
The Singapore corporate structure mirrors patterns seen across Southeast Asia, where political elites use the city-state's business-friendly environment and strong confidentiality laws to hold foreign assets. Singapore does not maintain a public registry of beneficial owners, making it difficult for journalists and investigators to pierce corporate veils.
Political dynasties and ASEAN wealth flows
Romualdez is a scion of one of the Philippines' most powerful political families. His aunt, Imelda Marcos, was first lady during the dictatorship that famously accumulated wealth through questionable means, much of it held through offshore structures.
The Sotogrande enclave where Villa Kabila sits is known for hosting European aristocracy and wealthy international buyers. Properties there regularly exceed €10 million. The area offers privacy, golf courses, and proximity to Gibraltar.
Neither Romualdez nor Frasco has publicly commented on the villa connection. Under Philippine law, public officials must declare assets, but offshore holdings through corporate structures can obscure true ownership.
Ten countries, 700 million people, one region—and the Singapore corporate registry that helps Southeast Asia's political elite move wealth across borders while their constituents dig through mudslides.
