MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday issued a warrant for the arrest of former Speaker Martin Romualdez who was charged with plunder by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Aldo ordered arrested were former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co and two others implicated in the plunder case over the alleged P7.4 billion flood control kickback scheme.
The order came just hours after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed the filing of the complaint against Romualdez before the anti-graft court.
Remulla branded the Leyte representative as the “biggest fish” charged in the massive corruption tied to the flood control scandal.
“Many more cases will be filed. Aside from plunder, there are other plunder cases, and many of them are money laundering cases,” he said.
“This is just a first in a series of cases we will file,” he added.
Meanwhile, Romualdez’s counsel and spokesman Ade Fajardo said the lawmaker respects the courts and will answer the allegations against him in accordance with law.
“We recognize the public interest surrounding this case. But ultimately, criminal liability must be determined by the evidence presented in court, under the rules and safeguards of our justice system,” Fajardo said.
“Representative Romualdez asks for no special treatment. He asks only for the same due process and fair hearing guaranteed to every Filipino,” he added.
