LEYTE Rep. Martin Romualdez on Thursday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to drop the charges against him in connection with the flood control scandal.
The appeal was relayed by Romualdez’s lawyer and spokesman, Ade Fajardo, who insisted that no credible witness could provide solid evidence proving he orchestrated the scheme.
“We see no grounds for it, so our prayer — our request to the Office of the Ombudsman — is for this to be dismissed, for the complaint against former speaker Romualdez to be junked,” Fajardo said.
He noted that 32 witnesses, including alleged star witness Orly Guteza, former aides of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, have recanted their statements implicating Romualdez.
Co is the subject of an arrest warrant from the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the flood control scam.
The camp of Romualdez last week filed a supplemental counter-affidavit with the Ombudsman containing sworn statements from former drivers and security aides. It also included Guteza's recantation.
“There is no credible witness, because several witnesses have come forward stating that no such delivery of a suitcase took place. These individuals all belong to the same group — they are the drivers, security personnel, and administrative aides of former Congressman Zaldy Co,” Fajardo said.
Even former public works chief Manuel Bonoan has not implicated Romualdez, he said.
“No district engineer, assistant district engineer, or any field personnel did so, precisely because no specific flood control project was ever linked to former speaker Romualdez — whether it was a project that didn't happen, wasn't executed, or was tampered with by him,” he added.
Fajardo acknowledged reports that the Ombudsman has identified 28 additional witnesses against Romualdez, but said the defense has yet to learn who they are.
