MANILA — The Ombudsman is pressing ahead with cases against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over the alleged flood control corruption scheme, with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla dismissing the recantations of some witnesses as a “smokescreen” that would not derail the investigation.
Remulla said the withdrawn statements represent only a small part of the evidence being considered against Romualdez, rejecting suggestions that the recantations had weakened the cases being prepared by his office.
“Oo, ba’t hindi? Andun na eh,” Remulla told reporters when asked whether cases against the former Speaker would still be pursued.
Among those who recanted was Orly Guteza, a former staff member of ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, who had earlier claimed that he delivered cash to Romualdez.
“Wala ‘yung recantation. ‘Yung recantation, smokescreen lang nila ‘yon para mawala yung iinit sa kanila. That’s only a small part of the case. Wala ‘yan. Syempre, pini-play up ‘yan ng mga abogado niya,” Remulla said.
The Ombudsman did not give a definite timetable for the filing of the cases but said investigators have never stopped working on them and that developments could come soon.
“Andyan lang ‘yan. We’re not stopping and we have not stopped and we have been working hard and it will come out very soon,” he said. “Basta ano lang kayo, relax lang kayo. Andiyan na ‘yan.”
Pressed for a specific filing date, Remulla again declined to commit to a timetable.
“Basta marami ‘yan. Andiyan na ‘yan. Hindi, ayaw kong magbigay ng specific answer diyan. Basta makikita niyo na lang. Andiyan na ‘yan,” he said.
Remulla said investigators were taking additional time to ensure that the cases would be strong enough to withstand legal challenges, pointing to the resources available to Romualdez.
“Marami lang kailangang talagang tapusin at kumpunahin para maganda ang pagkakagawa ng kaso. Hindi kasi pwedeng magpa-file diyan ng mahihinang kaso. Sobrang daming pera niyan… Sobrang daming abogado,” he said.
Romualdez has denied allegations linking him to the alleged flood control corruption scheme.
He earlier argued that affidavits submitted by Guteza and 25 other individuals undermined the credibility of the accusations against him.
Some of those who withdrew their statements also alleged that they had been offered money to sign prepared affidavits, according to Romualdez.
The former Speaker has cited the recantations in questioning the continued investigation and has urged the Ombudsman not to pursue the complaints against him.
Remulla, however, maintained that the withdrawn statements would not derail the cases, saying the Ombudsman has other evidence and matters under consideration as investigators complete their case buildup./PN
