MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former Speaker Martin Romualdez appealed to the Office of the Ombudsman to give the lawmaker the opportunity to respond to any new allegations against him in the flood control investigation.
Romualdez’s lawyer and spokesman Ade Fajardo made the appeal on Sunday amid reports that former public works chief Manuel Bonoan could be pressured to link Romualdez to the alleged massive corruption tied to anomalous flood control projects.
The Sandiganbayan recently granted the request of the Ombudsman to drop Bonoan as a respondent in the P573 million plunder and graft case. He has been released from detention.
“We are requesting the Ombudsman to inform us if there is any allegation from Secretary Bonoan against former Speaker Romualdez and to give us ample time to comment on it,” Fajardo said in a statement.
“There is also the report that the Ombudsman has 28 new witnesses. We would like to know if there is any statement from them against our client, and we would like as well to have the opportunity to respond,” he added.
Last August 20, Romualdez filed a supplemental affidavit asking the Ombudsman to halt its preliminary investigation, citing the withdrawal of allegations by five alleged “Maleta Boys,” including witness Orly Guteza, as well as statements from 25 of their colleagues disputing the accusations.
Guteza said that he was pressured to fabricate allegations against Romualdez by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor, both of whom have denied the accusation.
Fajardo reiterated that the retractions and statements from the 25 colleagues left no “credible evidence” against Romualdez.
“There has been no accusation from any of them since this controversy erupted more than a year ago. Of course it would surprise us, to say the least, if an allegation surfaces now or in the future,” he said.
He reiterated that Bonoan or any of his engineers or subordinates in the Department of Public Works and Highways has not linked Romualdez to the flood control scam.
“There has been no accusation from any of them since this controversy erupted more than a year ago. Of course it would surprise us, to say the least, if an allegation surfaces now or in the future,” Fajardo said.
