MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Friday questioned the release of former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan after the Sandiganbayan dropped him from the flood control-related plunder and graft cases.
Romualdez’s legal counsel and spokesman Ade Fajardo described the development as “alarming,” “surprising” and “disturbing,” particularly after Bonoan was freed from the case and could now potentially become a witness.
Fajardo reiterated that neither Bonoan nor any DPWH engineer or official had linked Romualdez to any flood control irregularity before the Ombudsman’s special panel, the House Blue Ribbon Committee or the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
“That means they could not find any particular DPWH project where Congressman Romualdez participated or allegedly influenced the outcome so that a particular contractor would win. There was no such allegation, which is why it is surprising that Secretary Bonoan all of a sudden is now available as a potential witness,” Fajardo said.
“And then suddenly, he is free and practically granted immunity because he is no longer an accused,” he added.
Fajardo also maintained that there was no longer any “credible evidence” against Romualdez, citing the retraction of allegations by five of the so-called Maleta Boys, including initial witness Orly Guteza.
