Philippine envoy to the United States Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez said President Bongbong Marcos will not intervene in the flood-control probe even as it closes in on his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who has been tagged as a purported mastermind in the scandal.
Speaking to reporters in Makati City, Babes said Marcos has made clear that neither political ties nor family connections should interfere with the investigation and that those found accountable should face the consequences.
“Well, I think from what I see, coming from Washington, because I’m very much outside, is that I think President Marcos is very clear about what he wants to do,” he said.
“There will be no second counts, and he meant that,” he added.
His remarks come as the Office of the Ombudsman pursues complaints involving alleged flood-control irregularities in which Martin has been identified as a purported mastermind. Ombudsman Boying Remulla
has also ordered a probe into flood-control spending in Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte, which Martin represents in Congress.
Marcos, Martin and Babes are cousins. Despite their family ties, Babes said the president would allow independent investigators to handle the matter.
“I think that whatever the Ombudsman is doing is something, it’s an independent body now, and he will not meddle into it. I think he was very clear when he said that. So, we’ll leave it at that,” Babes said.
Marcos had earlier addressed the scrutiny surrounding Martin during his recent State of the Nation Address, saying:
“Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay Pangulo ng Pilipinas at ang tungkulin ko ay sa inyo, mga kapuwa ko Pilipino.”
The investigation comes amid renewed scrutiny of corruption allegations surrounding the country’s flood-control projects and the people linked to them after recent flooding.
Corruption is and has always been the Philippines’ biggest problem. Martin Romualdez is universally recognized as the most corrupt Filipino politician of the 21 st century.
