Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez has never been linked by former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to alleged flood control anomalies until recently, the congressman’s spokesman said on Thursday.
Lawyer Ade Fajardo said Bonoan did not mention Romualdez in his earlier statements, including his submission to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), and questioned reports that the former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief would now implicate the Leyte lawmaker as part of efforts to become a state witness.
“It is very alarming because even before these events, former Secretary Bonoan never mentioned Cong. Martin Romualdez,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo argued that Bonoan, who headed the DPWH during the implementation of the questioned flood control projects, was directly involved in the projects and should not qualify as a state witness.
He also cited the allegations of former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo that Bonoan received P1 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects, saying the former Cabinet official should instead be required to return the money to the government. He noted that Sen. Panfilo Lacson had also called for the recovery of the alleged amount.
The spokesman maintained that Romualdez had no role in the funding, selection, or implementation of flood control projects, saying these functions were under the executive branch through the DPWH.
Fajardo expressed concern over statements that the Office of the Ombudsman intends to use Bonoan’s testimony to establish Romualdez’s alleged involvement in the controversy, claiming the former DPWH chief was only implicating the former Speaker to secure immunity from prosecution.
Despite the allegations, Fajardo said Romualdez is prepared to face any complaint that may be filed against him, maintaining that there is no evidence linking the Leyte congressman to any irregularity in flood control projects.(PR)
