One question and one question only: Who killed Ninoy Aquino?
That, Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta said, is what she would ask former Ambassador Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez if they happen to cross paths.
"If we are to meet, I really want to ask him who killed Ninoy. That's all," Oreta told education beat reporters Thursday night.
Oreta said she strongly believes that Romualdez knows who masterminded the slaying of her elder brother, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
Aquino was gunned down at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport (now named after him) on Aug. 21, 1983.
His death eventually moved the Filipino people to a peaceful revolt on EDSA three years later that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
The younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Romualdez was among the Marcos relatives who fled to the United States after the revolution.
Romualdez however returned to the country last week after 14 years in exile.
He is facing a P102-billion graft case before the Sandiganbayan, which stems from allegations that he acquired shares of stock from major companies such as the Manila Electric Co., Philippine Journalists Inc., Mantraso and its affiliates, PCI Bank Co., Benguet Consolidated Mining, Pilipinas Shell Corp., Aviles Realty Corp., Trans-Middle East Philippine Equities Inc., and Universal Broadcasting Corp.
During the 20-year Marcos rule, Romualdez served as governor of Leyte province, ambassador to Washington and assemblyman.
Oreta added that if Romualdez "is confident that he will win in court, he must be confident enough to tell the truth about Ninoy's death."
"I hope truth will still come out about my brother's death," she said.
Meanwhile, Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chairman Magdangal Elma said yesterday that the government has sufficient and credible evidence to pin down Romualdez in 27 cases pending before the Sandiganbayan.
Elma issued the statement even as he declared that Romualdez may legally opt to settle his cases through a compromise agreement with the government.
"As in any case pending before the Sandiganbayan or other courts of litigation, the defendant can propose a compromise to settle the case. This is allowed as a matter of court procedure," he said.
Elma said that once Romualdez offers a compromise to the PCGG, "that would be the opportune time for the PCGG to discuss its position in connection with the said compromise proposal."
A source earlier told The STAR that Elma was trying to be circumspect in issuing reactions regarding the return to the country last week of the 69-year-old Romualdez "to prevent pre-empting any possible negotiations with him." --With Jose Rodel Clapano