Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will file a supplemental counter-affidavit with the Office of the Ombudsman, attaching sworn statements from 25 former drivers and security aides of Rep. Zaldy Co, his spokesperson Atty. Ade Fajardo said Thursday.
In a press conference, Fajardo said the former aides would contradict earlier allegations linking Romualdez to alleged cash deliveries in a multibillion-peso flood-control corruption scandal.
The filing will also include a statement from Orly Guteza, a former aide whose account has been cited in the case and who has reportedly changed his position, Fajardo said.
According to Fajardo, the 25 former aides said they had no knowledge of any delivery of money to politicians or government officials, including Romualdez.
He said some of them were instead encouraged to join a group of witnesses in exchange for money and were presented with affidavits that had already been prepared for them.
Guteza also issued a statement detailing how, according to Fajardo, allegations against Romualdez were allegedly pressed on him to accept and sign, with the intention of making him a “missing link” between Romualdez and the case.
“Magkakasalungat po ang mga kwento,” Fajardo said. “May mga bagong testigong nagsasabing wala silang personal na kaalaman sa mga alegasyon.”
Romualdez has been linked to a wider investigation into alleged corruption and kickbacks involving flood-control projects. A former security aide has alleged that multimillion-peso cash deliveries were transported in suitcases to properties linked to political figures, including Romualdez.
Fajardo denied that Romualdez had any involvement in the allegations and said the conflicting accounts showed a lack of evidence against the House speaker.
“One thing is common,” Fajardo said. “May mga taong nag-udyok at namilit sa mga testigong ito para idawit si Rep. Romualdez sa kaso.”
He said Romualdez remained confident that a fair investigation would establish that the allegations against him had no basis.
Romualdez has denied involvement in the alleged flood-control corruption scheme.
