MANILA, Philippines — Maintaining that his conscience is clear, former speaker Martin Romualdez said that he trusts the impartiality of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Romualdez issued the statement yesterday through his lawyer Ade Fajardo after the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) recommended the filing of plunder and graft charges against him and resigned congressman Zaldy Co before the ombudsman.
“I willingly submitted myself to the ICI’s fact-finding process, appeared voluntarily and remained in the country,” Romualdez said in a statement read by Fajardo.
“Throughout all these proceedings, no sworn or credible evidence has ever linked me to any irregularity, and again, my conscience remains clear,” he added.
Romualdez said the case is now up to the ombudsman. Meanwhile, Fajardo said Romualdez remains in Metro Manila.
“Yes, it is business as usual. He is the representative of Leyte,” Fajardo said.
He added that Romualdez has yet to receive a copy of the complaint.
Co: House arrest or bail
Meanwhile, Co communicated his willingness to return to the country, but only if he is placed under house arrest or allowed to post bail, his lawyer said on Thursday.
“House arrest or bail. Bail will do because he is afraid of getting killed in jail,” his legal counsel Ruy Rondain said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel.
“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,” Rondain said.
Rondain noted that Co can only be tried in absentia if he is arraigned. “The Court has to acquire jurisdiction over his person and that can only be done by arraigning him in person.”
Co’s lawyer said he advised the ex-congressman to make a statement under oath about his allegations.
Meanwhile, reacting to the ombudsman’s statement that he is being investigated in relation to his construction company, former Pampanga congressman Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said that while he welcomes any inquiry on the matter, he is “not aware of an ongoing ombudsman formal investigation against me on prohibited interest.
“I recall that a case against me involving the same projects filed before the ombudsman was dismissed sometime in 2023 for lack of merit,” he added.