Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday assured the public that formal cases will be filed against former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez over his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.
Remulla did not provide a specific timeline for the filing but said the Ombudsman’s office was working to build a strong case against Romualdez, who faces allegations of plunder, graft, and bribery linked to the flood control scandal.
“Basta ano lang kayo, relax lang kayo, nandiyan na ’yan,” Remulla told reporters when asked about the case against Romualdez.
Romualdez had earlier called on the Ombudsman to consider the recantations of several witnesses who had made allegations against him.
Remulla, however, downplayed the recantations, describing them as a “smokescreen” and saying they represented only a small part of the case against the former Speaker.
“Wala yung recantation. Yung recantation, smokescreen lang nila ’yon para mawala yung init sa kanila. That’s only a small part of the case,” Remulla said.
He said the recantations of some former staff members and alleged bagmen of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, including Orly Guteza, would not derail the investigation.
Guteza had claimed that he made cash deliveries to Romualdez but later recanted his allegations.
Remulla said the Ombudsman has other witnesses and evidence that could support the case against Romualdez.
He also explained that investigators were taking time to ensure that the cases would be strong enough to withstand legal challenges.
“Marami lang kailangang talagang tapusin at kumpunahin para maganda ang pagkakagawa ng kaso. Hindi kasi pwedeng magpa-file diyan ng mahihinang kaso. Sobrang daming pera niyan… Sobrang daming abogado,” Remulla said.
“Sobrang daming pera niyan. ’Yun ang kalaban natin diyan, pera ng taumbayan pa ’yan,” he added.
Asked whether the cases could be filed within the year, Remulla declined to give a specific date.
“Basta marami ’yan nandiyan na ’yan. Ayokong magbigay ng specific [date]. Makikita niyo na lang, nandiyan na ’yan,” he said.
When asked to confirm whether Romualdez would face charges, Remulla replied: “Oo! Bakit hindi?”
Meanwhile, Remulla said former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who was removed as an accused in the flood control case, would serve as a government witness.
“He will be [a] witness, for the people, para sa taumbayan,” Remulla said.
Romualdez had previously argued that affidavits from Guteza and 25 other individuals not only undermine the reliability and credibility of the accounts of key witnesses but also contain claims that some witnesses were offered money in exchange for signing prepared affidavits.
