Ombudsman: 8 ex-bodyguards' statements tie Romualdez to cash deliveries but still unsigned

Ombudsman: Statements of 8 ex-bodyguards can be used vs. Martin Romualdez but still unsigned

The statements of eight of the 18 former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co appear to be "categorical and consistent" as regards cash deliveries to former Speaker Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and the party-list congressman, but their affidavits have yet to be signed, the Office of the Ombudsman said on Thursday.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the delay in the signing of the statements is one of the reasons affecting the investigation of the case against Romualdez.

Romualdez and Co are under investigation for kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. Co is already facing corruption and malversation of public funds charges before the Sandiganbayan over a P289-million irregular flood control project in Oriental Mindanao.

The camp of the Leyte representative stresses anew that there is no evidence linking the former House leader to the flood control project kickbacks, adding that the release of the funds was the call of the executive branch.

"The investigators seem to find those narrations of facts as it relates to the money being delivered to the former Speaker and to Zaldy Co, categorical and consistent with those facts. But as to the rest... we will not focus on that," Clavano said in a news conference.

Clavano cited the former bodyguards' lawyer, Atty. Levi Baligod. He said the draft affidavits have been prepared since June 20.

"He seems to be delaying the signatures of these Marines. That's one of the things that is delaying the case also as against the former Speaker,” Clavano said.

Some of the former bodyguards of Zaldy Co are former Marines.

“It’s a mere scrap of paper as of right now kasi hindi siya pirmado (it's not signed), and it's not under oath. But they seem to be cooperative, willing to sign already…the affiants," Clavano said.

"But of course, we also want the lawyer to review their statements because that is a part of their right, to seek counsel,” he added.

Clavano then said that the testimonies of the eight bodyguards are something useful, provided it is signed.

“The others don't have a first-hand account of the actual delivery. That is why we decided to draft each affidavit separately because the others don’t have personal knowledge doon sa delivery," Clavano said.

"We decided to split [their accounts] so we can really assess per person kung ano talaga nakita nila. And actually that makes the statements more credible if I may,” he added.

Clavano said that Baligod has already asked for a one-week extension twice for review of the said draft documents, which categorically allege that the eight bodyguards delivered money to Romualdez and Co.

A lawyer for Romualdez said that the former Speaker had no control of the budget process because the approval of the national budget is a collective act of the House of Representatives and the Senate, before the President signs it into law.

“The latest attempts to link Representative Romualdez to alleged anomalous flood control projects are not supported by evidence. They do not square with how the national budget process actually works,” Atty. Elaine Atienza, spokesperson for Romualdez, said.

“No former or incumbent Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official has ever identified Representative Romualdez as having participated in the planning, procurement, implementation, inspection, payment, or release of funds for any alleged ghost project," she added.

"Even former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan—despite all opportunities in the past and who had firsthand knowledge of the Department’s operations—never implicated Rep. Romualdez,” Atienza said.

Atienza then cited that once the budget becomes law, the Speaker has absolutely no authority over project bidding, contract awards, implementation, inspections, payments, or the release of government funds.

“To insist that Representative Romualdez was the 'mastermind' would require the public to believe that one person controlled every stage of the process—from budget preparation to project implementation and fund release," Atienza said.

"Representative Romualdez is being portrayed as the convenient excuse and political scapegoat despite the absence of evidence linking him to the alleged anomalous projects,” she added.

“At the end of the day, justice demands only one standard: accusations cannot come before evidence. The evidence points to the perpetrator,” Romualdez said. –NB, GMA News