Ombudsman Remulla: Romualdez's camp behind recantation of ex-bodyguards

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday alleged that the camp of Leyte Representative and former Speaker Martin Romualdez was behind the recantation of four former bodyguards who linked the lawmaker to the flood control mess.

“It is former Speaker Romualdez. Siyempre, siyempre, sino pa ba ang makikinabang pag nagrecant ‘yan?” Remulla said in a press conference.

(Of course, of course, who gets to benefit if these people opt to recant their statements?)

In response, Romualdez said Remulla’s comments prove that the Ombudsman is not giving him a fair shake.

“The Ombudsman’s accusation that I am behind the recantations of the former Marines is absolutely not true. This shows how extremely prejudiced he is against me,” Romualdez said in a statement.

“The recantations prove what I had been saying all along that the accusations against me are false and trumped up. Hindi ganito ang patas na paghahanap ng katotohanan,” the former Speaker, a lawyer like Remulla, added.

Romualdez also vowed to prove his accusers wrong.

“I will not be intimidated. I will face every accusation against me, defend myself with the facts, the evidence, and the truth,” Romualdez said.

Plunder, graft, direct bribery

The Ombudsman is currently investigating Romualdez for plunder, graft, and direct bribery in connection with alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

In February 2026, a group of 18 men who identified themselves as former security personnel of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co — some of them former Marines — surfaced publicly and executed affidavits alleging that they had delivered suitcases of cash to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Co, and other personalities.

"These individuals issued individual affidavits in front of our people here in the Ombudsman. They were asked questions and were answering the questions freely, with their own free will. It is very clear that they were very comfortable signing the affidavit at that time. So, what gives?" Remulla pointed out.

Remulla said these ex-bodyguards even went on various site supposedly where the delivery of kickback with an Ombudsman personnel.

"This is the point wherein we should on the role of lawyers in our society. Because lawyers, you're supposed to defend your client (to) the very end, but when you start obstructing justice and start coming up with schemes to frustrate the ends of justice, then you become complicit in the crimes committed," Remulla stressed.

."It's up to them if they really want to fight it out that way dirty, then we will just go to the Supreme Court and ask them to be taken out of the role of attorneys," Remulla added.

Eight of the 18 ex-bodyguards signed affidavits that were submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Three of the eight recanted their statements while the other one who recanted was not part of the group who filed an affidavit with the Ombudsman.

Remulla also said that Atty. Levi Baligod, the counsel of the former bodyguards who executed an affidavit before the Ombudsman for the Romualdez complaint, is not exactly a trustworthy person.

“Baligod is a very colorful character. That's what he is. I mean, from the PDAF days, you do your research on what Mr. Baligod did during the PDAF cases of Napoles,” he said.

He was referring to the P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam wherein the discretionary funds of lawmakers for their constituents were funneled to bogus non-government entities owned by businesswoman Janet Napoles.

At that time, Baligod served as one of the lawyers of state witness Benhur Luy.

“I'm not the best source for what kind of person he is. I think other people can tell you,” Remulla added.

Asked if he still finds Baligod trustworthy after the recent turn of events, Remulla replied, “Was he ever?” — AOL/RSJ, GMA News