Former speaker Martin Romualdez asserted that he remains confident in the Office of the Ombudsman’s neutrality as the agency takes on the recommendations of two government bodies seeking charges against him.
His statement was delivered by his counsel, Ade Fajardo, a day after the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) advised the filing of plunder and graft complaints against Romualdez and former lawmaker Zaldy Co. Fajardo noted that Romualdez has not received any copy of the complaint and continues to stay in Metro Manila while attending to his legislative work. “Yes, it is business as usual. He is the representative of Leyte,” Fajardo said.
Romualdez stressed that he took part in the ICI proceedings without hesitation, saying in the message read by his lawyer: “I willingly submitted myself to the ICI’s fact-finding process, appeared voluntarily and remained in the country.” He also said, “Throughout all these proceedings, no sworn or credible evidence has ever linked me to any irregularity, and again, my conscience remains clear.”
As Romualdez pointed to the ombudsman as the next deciding body, Co’s legal team laid out a different stance. His lawyer, Ruy Rondain, said the former congressman is prepared to return to the Philippines on two conditions: house arrest or the option to post bail. “House arrest or bail. Bail will do because he is afraid of getting killed in jail,” Rondain said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel.
Rondain argued that assurance of Co’s safety would be essential, describing scenarios he fears could endanger his client. “If the government can assure his safety. I heard the ombudsman saying that we will escort him from the tube, bring him to an armored van with body cams the whole time. And then what, where are they gonna bring him… to the general population detention? He’s gonna get shot after the first 30 minutes,” he said.
He added that a trial in absentia is only possible after arraignment, noting that “The Court has to acquire jurisdiction over his person and that can only be done by arraigning him in person.” Rondain also said he had advised Co to give his claims under oath.
The issue widened after former Pampanga congressman Aurelio Gonzales Jr. responded to reports that he was under scrutiny over his construction firm. Gonzales said he supports any inquiry but clarified that he is “not aware of an ongoing ombudsman formal investigation against me on prohibited interest.” He added, “I recall that a case against me involving the same projects filed before the ombudsman was dismissed sometime in 2023 for lack of merit.”
