“My conscience is clear”
TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday, November 16, denied claims linking him and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to alleged kickbacks from government-funded flood control projects, stressing that his conscience remains clear amid ongoing inquiries.
The statement follows allegations made by former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who claimed that Romualdez and Marcos received illicit commissions tied to flood control projects aimed at preventing flooding in low-lying towns. Co’s statements, however, have not been made under oath or presented in any formal legal proceedings.
“My conscience remains clear. Throughout this inquiry, no public official, contractor, or witness has pointed to any wrongdoing on my part,” Romualdez said in a press release. He declined further comment on Co’s claims, noting that they “do not hold water in the court of law.”
Romualdez expressed trust in government institutions investigating the matter, including the Inter-Agency Committee on Infrastructure (ICI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of the Ombudsman. “I am confident that all statements will be evaluated fairly and strictly on the basis of evidence,” he said, adding that he is ready to cooperate with any lawful process.
In a video message, Co alleged that President Marcos and Romualdez received as much as P56 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects nationwide. The issue gained public attention after President Marcos himself raised concerns about irregularities in flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address earlier this month.
The ICI, together with the Office of the Ombudsman, has recommended the filing of criminal charges against individuals involved in the flood control project irregularities, as the investigation continues. Romualdez was not among those charged relative to the controversy.
JOEY A. GABIETA
