Romualdez camp says Co bodyguard claims unreliable, urges fair probe
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One of the lawyers of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez said their client is seeking only fairness in the ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control kickback scheme that has identified him as one of its purported masterminds.
Speaking in a radio interview, lawyer Ade Fajardo said there was no clear evidence directly linking the Leyte 1st District representative to the alleged anomalies in flood control projects that supposedly resulted in the misuse of billions of pesos in public funds.
Fajardo said that even the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), which was formed to investigate the controversy, found no evidence implicating Romualdez beyond his role as one of the signatories to the national budget and his position as one of the officials involved in implementing flood control projects.
The lawyer also questioned the reliance on the testimonies of self-proclaimed bodyguards of former party-list representative Zaldy Co, who claimed they delivered cash-filled luggage to several government officials.
"Our initial reaction is the same as what we've been saying all along. We do not find the claims of these so-called 'maleta boys' believable. They simply lack credibility," Fajardo said.
"From the very beginning, even back when they first came forward in February, the Ombudsman himself said at the time that their statements appeared to have been calculated to destabilize," he added.
Fajardo also cited the Department of Justice's filing of perjury complaints against the 18 bodyguards, saying the move further undermined the credibility of their statements.
Despite raising concerns over the evidence and what he described as the apparent singling out of his client, Fajardo said Romualdez was prepared to answer the allegations through the proper legal process.
Responding to reports that Romualdez had allegedly attempted to leave the country despite a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO), Fajardo maintained that his client had no intention of evading the investigation.
"He is ready to face all of these allegations. But it has to be done through due process. That has always been our position—that we be given a level playing field, so to speak, in these proceedings," he said.
"Congressman Romualdez is not fleeing. He has remained in the country, attending to his constituents and, of course, fulfilling his legislative duties as the representative of Leyte."
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a complaint for preliminary investigation against Romualdez, Co, and several other officials over the alleged flood control anomaly. The respondents face allegations of plunder, graft, direct and indirect bribery, and money laundering.
According to the complaint, Romualdez allegedly amassed P56 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects between 2022 and 2025, when he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
During the same period, Co served as chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations. The former lawmaker has been outside the country since 2025 and has reportedly sought political asylum abroad.
