Romualdez camp: ICI referral for raps filing not guilty verdict

The camp of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez insisted Monday that the referral submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to the Ombudsman last week—recommending the filing of plunder, graft and bribery charges—does not necessarily mean the lawmaker committed wrongdoing.

Romualdez’s legal counsel, Atty. Ade Fajardo, emphasized that the referral explicitly states it was “issued without any finding or conclusion of guilt or liability on the part of former Speaker Romualdez,” asserting that the document was submitted solely for further investigation and does not determine his guilt.

“This clear statement reinforces our confidence in the commission’s impartiality and reinforces the constitutional role of the Ombudsman as the sole authority empowered to make determination on accountability,” Fajardo said.

He added that the referral incorporates evidence presented by Romualdez himself, including sworn affidavits, transcripts and the full audio-video recording of his voluntary appearance before the commission on 14 October.

ICI panel member Rogelio Singson and Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon filed the referrals before the Ombudsman on Friday, along with volumes of evidence against Romualdez and his former ally, Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.

The filing came days after Co accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of orchestrating the insertion of ₱100 billion in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, 25 percent of which supposedly went straight to Marcos.

The document urged the Ombudsman to further investigate the role of Romualdez and Co in the flood control projects, with a view to filing the recommended corruption charges.

The referral also contains the sworn testimony of whistleblower Orly Guteza in the Senate flood control probe, where he accused Romualdez and Co of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects, which he said he regularly delivered to their residences in Forbes Park and Valle Verde 6, Pasig, respectively.

Fajardo said the ICI’s transmittal of evidence to the Ombudsman for further evaluation is part of its mandate, which the former speaker respects.

He also expressed confidence that “the Ombudsman will conduct an independent, thorough and objective review of the evidence submitted,” adding that “a fair and complete assessment of the record will reflect the truth.”

Last week, Romualdez insisted that the absence of a sworn statement or credible evidence linking him to irregularities in flood control projects—along with his “voluntary” cooperation with the ICI and his continued stay in the country amid the ongoing probe—are clear indicators of his “clear conscience.”

Co has also accused Romualdez of instructing him to deliver ₱2 billion in monthly remittances from 2022 up to this year, allegedly split between the President and the former Speaker.

The money was allegedly delivered to No. 30 Tamarind Street, South Forbes Park, which Co claimed was built to serve as a “drop-off and storage of money from SOPs, collections.”

In previous videos uploaded online, Co also showed digital images of nearly 300 suitcases allegedly delivered to Marcos and Romualdez at Malacañang and Forbes Park from January 2024 to May 2025.

Marcos has downplayed Co’s accusations, saying he “won’t dignify” them, while Romualdez reiterated that his conscience “remains clear” and that the imputations of his ex-ally “do not hold water in the court of law.”