MANILA — The camp of former House Speaker and Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez questioned the Ombudsman’s disclosure of 28 additional witnesses in the flood control corruption investigation, saying their sudden emergence raises concerns over what it described as shifting developments in the case.
Romualdez’s spokesman, lawyer Ade Fajardo, said the defense had not been informed of the identities of the new witnesses or the substance of their statements despite the continuing investigation into allegations that the former Speaker received kickbacks from flood control projects.
“Kami po ay nagugulat dito [new witnesses] kasi ngayon lang ito namin narinig at hindi pa namin nakikita, nababasa, o nalalaman kung sino ‘tong mga ‘to. Para bang iniiba-iba ang sitwasyon as the investigation goes along,” Fajardo said in a radio interview.
He said the development has also reinforced the Romualdez camp’s belief that the former Speaker is being singled out in the investigation.
The Ombudsman disclosed the existence of the additional witnesses after Orly Guteza, a former aide of ex-Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co, withdrew his earlier allegations that he had delivered suitcases containing alleged kickback money to Romualdez.
Romualdez’s camp welcomed Guteza’s recantation and included his latest affidavit among the documents it submitted to the Ombudsman.
The former Speaker’s lawyers also submitted affidavits from 25 former employees and personnel of Co who, according to Fajardo, disputed allegations that cash deliveries involving Romualdez had taken place.
“Sinasabi nila [25 ex-personnel] na walang ganyang bigayan ng pera. Sa katunayan, marami rin sa kanila ang nagsabi na lately ay inudyukan sila na sumanib sa kanila na may pangakong financial,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo denied that Romualdez or his camp had anything to do with persuading witnesses to withdraw or change their previous statements.
Instead, he urged investigators to look into the circumstances surrounding the recantations and allow the witnesses to explain why they had changed their accounts.
“Bigyan naman natin ng benefit of the doubt itong mga personalities na ito,” he said. “Posible rin naman na sila ay naitulak ng kanilang damdamin na magsabi ng totoo.”
Fajardo said Romualdez’s camp expects the Ombudsman to carefully evaluate the affidavits and other evidence it has submitted alongside the statements of the additional witnesses.
The Ombudsman is continuing its investigation into alleged corruption involving flood control projects, with Romualdez among the personalities accused of benefiting from purported kickbacks.
Guteza was among those who previously implicated the former Speaker. At least four other members of Co’s former security team have also reportedly withdrawn or recanted their earlier allegations./PN
