The end is near for Martin Romualdez.
Philippine Ombudsman Boying Remulla announced Friday that his office is in the final stages of preparing a multibillion-peso plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
During an agency media briefing, Remulla addressed public questions over the pace of the high-profile investigation into the flood control project scandal.
“Maraming naiinip… pero dapat deliberate… para ‘pag binuo ‘yong kaso at finile ay hindi siya basta-basta mawawasak ng defense counsel,” Remulla said.
Remulla said the case is being built deliberately to ensure it can withstand legal challenges once it is filed.
He said the investigation is being strengthened by testimony and information from key personalities who have identified Romualdez or are providing insider accounts.
Among them is former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan. The Ombudsman has moved to discharge Bonoan from separate flood control graft and plunder charges so he can serve as a state witness and provide firsthand testimony in the case against Romualdez.
Remulla also cited previous findings by the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which implicated Romualdez, former House appropriations committee chair Zaldy Co and contractors, including the Discaya couple, in alleged irregularities and kickbacks involving the national budget and DPWH flood control projects.
Remulla said the Ombudsman is taking time to ensure the evidence is airtight before filing the case with the Sandiganbayan. Romualdez has been identified as the mastermind of a multibillion-peso flood control kickback scheme and is investigating him for plunder, bribery and money laundering involving about ₱56 billion.
