The camp of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez insists there is no evidence tying the former House Speaker to irregularities in flood control project funds.
The camp of Martin Romualdez, Leyte’s 1st District Representative and former House Speaker, has strongly denied allegations that link him to corruption involving the misuse of funds for flood control projects. This comes after the Office of the Ombudsman accused Romualdez of being the mastermind behind a grand conspiracy and plunder case related to these projects.
According to Ombudsman spokesperson Mico Clavano, Romualdez was identified as the central figure in this alleged anomaly. However, Romualdez’s spokesperson, Elaine Atienza, countered these claims, stating that despite numerous Senate and House investigations, no current or former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official has implicated Romualdez in any phase of the projects, from planning to payment.
The camp also denied accusations that Romualdez or the House leadership manipulated the budget proposal prepared by former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is expected to become a state witness. Atienza emphasized that Bonoan, having firsthand knowledge of the department’s operations, never implicated Romualdez.
Romualdez’s camp clarified that multiple sectors are involved in crafting the national budget, and no single individual, including the House Speaker, exercises complete control over it. They explained that the execution and use of approved project funds fall under the Executive Branch’s authority.
“The Speaker has absolutely no authority over project bidding, contract awards, implementation, inspections, payments, or the release of government funds,” said Atienza. “If there are individuals who committed wrongdoing, they should be held accountable, but they do not believe a major name should be used as a shortcut for public attention.”
Efforts by GMA News to obtain a statement from the Ombudsman on the matter remain ongoing.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/balita/993571/kampo-ni-romualdez-iginiit-na-walang-katibayan-na-sangkot-ang-ex-speaker-sa-katiwalian/story/
