Former Speaker Martin Romualdez Asserts He Won’t Be the “Fall Guy” for Others’ Corruption
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – The former House Speaker warned the administration of his cousin, President Bongbong Marcos, amid the flood control mess.
Zaldy Co has been arrested and detained in Prague as per Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The former Congressman is one of the alleged main role players in the flood control mess that left countless Filipinos disappointed and calling for accountability.
Co previously dragged Pres. Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez into the flood control mess. According to the former chairman of the House Budget Appropriations Committee, the President and the then-House Speaker allegedly received a P56-billion kickback all for themselves.
The Palace denied the allegation of Zaldy Co against the President. Undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that it was Marcos Jr. who initiated the investigation of the flood control mess. According to her, the former Congressman tagged the President in the issue as he allegedly wants the investigation to stop.
Amid the accusations, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez stressed his innocence. He resigned from being the speaker of the House of Representatives and appeared before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in its flood control investigation. Here are the reports of the ICI:
- Nine referrals, covering 65 implicated individuals, submitted to the Ombudsman, one of which was made with the Department of Public Works and Highways
- 66 individuals referred to the Department of Justice for the issuance of Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders (ILBOs)
- 32 hearings covering 36 witnesses, including 20 legislators and five agency heads
- 16 site inspections nationwide
- 1,173 documents processed
- 6,692 bank accounts of implicated individuals frozen or subjected to freeze orders
- P24.7 billion worth of assets seized, preserved, frozen or surrendered, according to the Anti-Money Laundering Council. This includes 229 vehicles, 394 insurance policies, 161 real properties, 16 e-wallet accounts and 10 air assets
- Eight inter-agency coordination meetings conducted and six legislative sessions attended
- Three hearings livestreamed
Recently, following the arrest of Zaldy Co, the Ombudsman revealed that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez requested to travel to Singapore for five (5) days. It was allegedly for a checkup.
According to Ombudsman Boying Remulla, former Speaker Romualdez might not come back so his request was denied. His name on the lookout bulletin of the Bureau of Immigration as he is being investigated in the flood control mess.
“Ang problema diyan, para namang sobrang coincidental na nahuli si Zaldy Co sa Europe, bigla siyang aalis. Nag-iingat lang po tayo,” the Ombudsman said.
Following the denial of his request for a travel to Singapore and the remarks against him, based on a report on PhilStar, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez warned the Marcos Jr. administration not to force him to squeal.
“I have been in public life long enough. I have seen enough. I have heard enough. I know many things: about this current administration and past administrations as well,” the former House Speaker said.
Furthermore, Romualdez also stressed that he will not be the “fall guy” for the alleged corruption of the other people. Based on the report, he called on the Marcos Jr. admin to let the matter be handled legally.
“If this is a political play to push me out and close the story, tarnishing my name and my reputation, then I am telling everyone now: I will not go quietly, and I will not go alone. I will not be the fall guy for other people’s corruption,” Romualdez expressed.
Previously, Pres. Bongbong Marcos vowed that the government will bring Zaldy Co home to answer to the Philippine people.