Romualdez's claim not an accusation vs Marcos — ex-IBP president

The former national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said Wednesday that the statement of former Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez indicating that the Executive branch bears command responsibility over the national budget, was not a direct accusation against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Atty. Domingo Cayosa said this when asked in a Super Radyo dzBB interview if he believes Romualdez’s video statement was a swipe at the President. 

“Hindi pa ho naman accusation. It’s just a statement of a theory, an assumption. ‘Yung sinasabi niya na ‘yung command responsibility, hindi naman particularly sinasabi na siya (Marcos),” Cayosa said.

(It's not yet an accusation. It's just a statement of a theory, an assumption. When he talked about command responsibility, he did not particularly implicate Marcos.) 

Regardless, Cayosa said Marcos could not wash his hands off the controversy because he signed the 2025 national budget. 

“Hindi niya totally [puwedeng] sabihin na, ‘Wala akong kinalaman diyan. Kasi nga sa dokumento eh pinirmahan niya. Ang presumption, dahil Presidente siya, at ang dami niyang mga secretary, mga abogado eh dapat bago niya pinirmahan ay sinuri niya,” he added. 

(The President cannot totally say that he had nothing to do with that because he signed the documents. The presumption is, because he is President and he has many secretaries and lawyers, he should have reviewed everything before signing.) 

Romualdez on Tuesday denied any role in the corruption related to the 2025 national budget, stressing there is "no evidence that proves that he committed plunder, conspiracy to commit plunder, or any similar offense that the Ombudsman may be contemplating against me." 

The former House Speaker stressed that if anyone bears command responsibility over the budget, it would be the Executive branch.

“If corruption were to occur on the scale alleged in recent months, it is clear that it would not happen at the level of general legislative approval alone. It happens at the level of execution of the General Appropriations Act,” he said.

“That is why command responsibility is more logically attributed to the Executive branch, where there is actual supervision, operational control, and on-the-ground implementation, rather than to a collegial legislative body whose constitutional role is deliberation and appropriation,” Romualdez added.

GMA News Online asked the Presidential Communications Office and the Office of the Executive Secretary for comment regarding Romualdez's recent remarks on corruption issues, but both offices have yet to respond.

Meanwhile, Cayosa welcomed Romualdez’s “coming out,” but said he should detail his statement and give testimony under oath. 

He also pointed out that Marcos may be held accountable if an impeachment complaint is filed against him, or after he finishes his term as President when he is no longer immune from suit. 

“Habang nakaupo ‘yung Pangulo ay hindi siya puwedeng sampahan ng criminal case. Pero puwede rin siyang managot sa pamamagitan ng impeachment case,” Cayosa said. 

(While the President is in office, he cannot be charged with a criminal case. But he can be held accountable through an impeachment case.) — RSJ, GMA News