MANILA — The camp of Leyte 1st District congressman and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has challenged the credibility of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan after reports that he may be considered a state witness in the government’s flood control anomaly investigation, insisting there is no evidence linking Romualdez to the alleged irregularities.
Romualdez spokesperson Atty. Ade Fajardo said Thursday that Bonoan should not be treated as a credible witness, citing allegations by former DPWH undersecretary-turned-state witness Roberto Bernardo that the former DPWH chief himself allegedly received P1 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects.
Fajardo argued that Bonoan should instead be held accountable rather than be granted immunity in exchange for testimony.
He also expressed alarm over reports that Bonoan’s testimony could be used to implicate Romualdez despite previously never mentioning the Leyte lawmaker.
“It’s very alarming. Because even way before these events… ay hindi po nababangit si Cong. Martin Romualdez ni dating Secretary Manuel Bonoan,” Fajardo said.
He noted that Bonoan likewise did not identify Romualdez in his testimony before the Independent Commission on Infrastructure, which investigated the alleged flood control scam.
“Nakakabahala na isang taon na ang nakalipas at ngayon lang niya babanggitin for the first time para lang sabihin at ma-discharge siya, mabigyan siya ng immunity, hindi na siya makukulong dahil sasabihin lang niya ang magic words na Martin Romualdez,” he said.
Fajardo claimed Bonoan was merely speculating about Romualdez’s alleged involvement to avoid liability and strengthen accusations by naming a prominent political figure.
Despite the allegations, Fajardo said Romualdez is prepared to face any legal proceedings and continues to deny involvement in any anomalous transaction.
“Wala pong attempt, wala pong kaisipan ang ating former Speaker na tumakas po sa obligasyon o pananagutan kung meron… he has always maintained, there is no such anomalous transaction to back up the allegations against him,” Fajardo said.
In a separate statement, Romualdez spokesperson lawyer Elaine Atienza stressed that no current or former DPWH official has identified the Leyte congressman as having participated in the planning, procurement, implementation, inspection, payment, or release of funds for any alleged ghost flood control project.
She said even Bonoan, despite heading the DPWH at the time, had never implicated Romualdez.
“Simple lang kung bakit — because Rep. Romualdez was not involved,” Atienza said.
Atienza also rejected claims that Romualdez influenced the implementation of flood control projects, explaining that the National Expenditure Program is prepared by the Executive branch through the Department of Budget and Management and implementing agencies before it is submitted to Congress.
She emphasized that the Speaker has no authority over project bidding, contract awards, implementation, inspections, payments, or the release of government funds after the national budget is enacted into law.
Atienza maintained that any investigation into the alleged flood control anomalies should be anchored on evidence rather than speculation, adding that Romualdez was being unfairly portrayed as a political scapegoat despite the absence of proof.
“Sa paghahanap ng hustisya, hindi puwedeng mauna ang akusasyon bago ang ebidensya. Sa batas, ang ebidensya ang nagtuturo kung sino ang mananagot,” she said./PN
