President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has taken on the role of due-process guardian, at least where former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex–Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co are concerned.

Marcos on Thursday stressed that Romualdez, his cousin, was not among the 37 names endorsed by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the flood control scandals.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, the President presented the first batch of case referrals involving lawmakers, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, and private contractors facing possible charges of graft, corruption, malversation, falsification, plunder and administrative violations.

Among those named by the ICI were Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former House Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co, former Caloocan 2nd District representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy, Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana, former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former DPWH undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Maria Catalina Cabral, along with personnel from DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and Regional Office IV-B and private contractors.

But Romualdez, Marcos said, was not on the list. “We’ll give you the complete list,” he added. “I just didn’t go through them because there are like 37 of them.”

Pressed further on whether Romualdez appeared anywhere in the referral, the President was unequivocal: “I don’t think so because the only evidence that has been made against him was in the Senate.”

“So, I don’t know… no, with the [former] speaker, no. Not as yet. Not as yet. If something else comes out, then he might have to be answerable for something,” the President said.

Marcos underscored that “we don’t file cases for optics,” saying that legal action will only proceed based on verifiable evidence. “Provide us with the evidence, and we will file cases against them,” he said.

He added that no individual enjoys immunity: “No one… no one is immune here… no one is exempt in these investigations.” 

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The controversy revived recollections of the September Senate Blue Ribbon hearing, where Orly Regala Guteza, a self-claimed former security consultant to Co, accused several high-ranking officials, including Romualdez, of receiving suitcases stuffed with cash. 

Former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero later accused Romualdez of orchestrating moves to destabilize the Senate to divert attention from his alleged involvement.

Marcos’ sister, Senator Imee Marcos, added her own twist, claiming on Wednesday that witnesses who testified in the Senate hearings would recant their testimonies due to threats. 

She identified Guteza as one of those who would withdraw his statement. She also claimed Romualdez was the “star witness” Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson referred to. 

Senator Marcos said Romualdez has since backed out of testifying in Friday’s continuation of the Senate probe, which will now focus on the 17 House members tagged by contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

Meanwhile, the President clarified why Zaldy Co was still abroad with an active passport.

He said Co’s passport “has not been canceled because charges have yet to be filed against him, therefore the request for the cancellation of his passport cannot yet be made.” 

“However, when that time comes, we will immediately cancel his passport,” he said, noting the need to follow constitutional procedures requiring a filed case before cancellation.

Asked whether Co could become a state witness, Marcos said, “That option is always there, except for those who are the most guilty.”

As for determining Co’s guilt, the President cautioned restraint: “I don’t want… and then, if I said it, you’ll say it’s prejudged. Let the courts do their work. Let the judges do their work.”