MANILA — Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s legal team has challenged any suggestion that his 90-day preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan establishes his guilt in the P7.44-billion plunder case, insisting that prosecutors have yet to prove he received a single peso in illegal kickbacks.
Atty. Ade Fajardo said Wednesday that the anti-graft court’s suspension order was a legal requirement, not a conviction, and that Romualdez’s alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso corruption scandal remains unproven.
“The court has not found Martin guilty of plunder. It has not established that he received a single peso in illegal commissions or kickbacks,” Fajardo said.
The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division ordered Romualdez, the incumbent representative of Leyte’s 1st District, suspended from his congressional duties for 90 days upon receipt of the order.
Fajardo emphasized that the court itself acknowledged that Romualdez’s alleged participation, the extent of his involvement and the transactions supposedly involving kickbacks must still be established during trial.
“An allegation is not evidence. A valid Information is not a conviction. The prosecution must still prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.
Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co are accused of collecting at least P7.44 billion in kickbacks from contractors and other entities involved in flood control, infrastructure and related government projects from 2022 to 2025.
The Ombudsman alleged that the two received commissions and other financial benefits through at least 15 transactions, with portions of the proceeds supposedly funneled through shell companies, financial intermediaries and property acquisitions.
Romualdez has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
Fajardo also noted that his client remains in detention and is already unable to perform his congressional functions.
He said Romualdez respects the court’s ruling but is considering available legal remedies.
“Hindi hatol ng pagkakasala ang suspension. Mismong korte ang nagsabing kailangan pang patunayan ang mga paratang. Hindi sapat ang akusasyon—kailangan ng ebidensya,” Fajardo said.
Romualdez was arrested on September 7 at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City and transferred to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas on September 14 following a medical assessment at the Philippine General Hospital./PN
