MANILA, Philippines — Attempts to pin down former speaker and Leyte representative Martin Romualdez to anomalous flood control projects are "not supported by evidence" and "do not square with how the national budget process actually work," according to his spokesman.
The statement comes after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the investigation into Romualdez's involvement in the flood control scandal continues, noting that former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan has agreed to become a state witness to boost cases against the lawmaker.
In a statement, lawyer Elaine Atienza said that despite "numerous Senate and House inquiries and other official investigations, no former or incumbent Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official has ever identified Romualdez as having participated in the planning, procurement, implementation, inspection, payment, or release of funds for any alleged ghost project,".
"Even former secretary Bonoan – despite all opportunities in the past and – who had firsthand knowledge of the Department’s operations – never implicated Rep. Romualdez,". Atienza said.
"Simple lang kung bakit – because Rep. Romualdez was not involved (Its simple, Rep. Romualdez was not involved)," Atienza added.
She reiterated that in the national budget process, no single person, including the Speaker, has control over it, stressing that the National Expenditure Program is prepared by the Executive Branch through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and implementing agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
"Once submitted to Congress, it is deliberated upon by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. No Speaker can dictate upon Cabinet secretaries. Neither can he dictate upon senators, who exercise their own independent constitutional mandate. Sila po ay pantay pantay dyan being elected officials, Primus inter pares. (They all stand on equal footing in that respect, first among equals)," Atienza said.
She also said that when the budget becomes law, the Speaker has absolutely no authority over project bidding, contract awards, implementation, inspections, payments, or the release of government funds.
"To insist that Rep. Romualdez was the “mastermind” would require the public to believe that one person controlled every stage of the process—from budget preparation to project implementation and fund release," she said.
She said that if there were irregularities in any infrastructure project, then those who actually exercised legal and operational authority should be identified and held accountable.
“Kung may nagkasala, papanagutin natin. Pero huwag nating gawing shortcut ang paghahanap ng isang malaking pangalan para lang may maipakita sa publiko (If someone has committed a wrongdoing, we will hold them accountable. But we should not take the shortcut of looking for a high-profile name just to have someone to present to the public),” Atienza said.
