MANILA, Philippines - Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will fully cooperate "if and when a formal proceeding is initiated."
In a press briefing earlier on Monday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that "we have been seriously preparing a case of plunder against" Romualdez, a former speaker, and former Senate president Francis Escudero in connection with the budget process.
"To be clear, this refers only to a reported preparation of a complaint involving Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez", said Ade Fajardo, Romualdez' lawyer and spokesman, in a statement.
"We respect the processes of the Office of the Ombudsman and will fully cooperate if and when a formal proceeding is initiated. We trust that the Ombudsman will fully adhere to the circular that he instituted and signed as then Secretary of the Department of Justice, that DOJ prosecutors should only pursue cases with 'reasonable certainty of conviction'", Fajardo said.
It was stressed in the statement that "to date, there is no evidence linking Rep. Romualdez to any" alleged ghost project or alleged substandard project "pertaining to the flood control issue."
"We remain confident that these matters will be resolved based on evidence and due process—not politics or speculation", Fajardo said.
In the press briefing on Monday, Remulla said the "element of conspiracy" was "involved in the preparation of the complaint."
"It's actually the way that the budget was passed upon by the two houses and how many things happened to be have been implemented because of that", he said.
"Right now, we are looking into '24 and '25 but it can go back to as far as the time of speaker Velasco is concerned", he said when asked what years his office was looking into as to the budget.
Velasco is former lawmaker Lord Allan Velasco.