Romualdez camp says ex-speaker always ready to face complaints

Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The lawyer of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has maintained that the former speaker of the House of Representatives has been always ready to face the possible cases against him, as they are confident that they will be able to defend their innocence. In a statement on Friday, lawyer Elaine Atienza said that if there will be a fair judgement of evidence presented against Romualdez, the lawmaker will be able to prove his claim that he is not involved in any wrongdoing. “Like what we have said even before, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is prepared to face any complaint against him,” Atienza said. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Ombudsman: Bonoan’s state witness bid made to pin down Romualdez “We believe that if there will be a fair fight and a fair judgment based on evidence, Rep. Romualdez will prove his claims. We just ask the public to let the process prevail and let evidence decide the case,” he added. Atienza’s claims came after the Office of the Ombudsman’s special panel of prosecturos released copies of a 104-page supplemental complaint-affidavit against Romualdez, which accuses the former Speaker of allegedly funneling billions of pesos in kickbacks from infrastructure projects through a network of beneficially-owned shell companies. READ: Romualdez’s lawyer insists: No probe showed his links to infra mess According to the special panel, they are recommending the filing of plunder, direct and indirect bribery, money laundering and graft against Romualdez and his co-respondents before the Sandiganbayan. Article continues after this advertisement Prosecutors accused Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of “concerted and coordinated acts” in “unlawfully amassing, accumulating, and acquiring ill-gotten wealth” amounting to approximately P56 billion from 2022 to 2025. These amounts were mostly delivered for Romualdez by Co’s bodyguards, through usage of suitcases, according to prosecutors. Article continues after this advertisement According to the special panel, additional evidence revealed that “several corporate entities appear to have been utilized as conduits for the diversion and disposition of substantial amounts of funds through the abuse of public office and the use of dummies, nominees and closely-held corporations.” Among the companies mentioned were Golden Pheasant Holdings Corporation, Clearspring Holdings Corporation, Brightnews Corporation, Braavos Holdings OPC, and Valiant Consolidated Resources Inc. Prosecutors said these companies are either linked to or had a lawyer and fraternity brother of Romualdez. “The records point to no conclusion other than that Romualdez, through [his fraternity brother], transacted the proceeds of the aforementioned unlawful activities through Golden Pheasant, Clearspring, Brightnews, Braavos and Valiant,” the prosecutors said. Romualdez has been accused of involvement in the budget mess and the alleged manipulation of funds for infrastructure corruption. However, this is not the first time that the former Speaker’s camp reiterated their willingness to face the cases, or claimed that no investigation was able to show his links to the two issues. Last July 2, Atienza herself maintained that attempts to link the Leyte-based solon to the said budgeting issues “are not supported by evidence” as the former Speaker cannot have total control of the entire budget process. Atienza said this after Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano admitted that the decision to tap former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as state witness was made in order to strengthen their case against Romualdez. Atienza also said that not even Bonoan has implicated Romualdez in past investigations and congressional hearings, simply because the lawmaker was not involved in the anomalous insertions. Then last July 9, Romualdez’s spokesperson Ade Fajardo said that Bonoan might have been pressured to testify regarding the infrastructure corruption scandal as he may be transferred to an ordinary jail facility. According to Fajardo, the possibility of being moved away from hospital arrest once he is medically-cleared may have been weighing on Bonoan’s mind, especially with his advanced age — hence the pressure to testify against Romualdez. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Fajardo stressed that Bonoan has not dropped any testimony that would link Romualdez to the corruption scandal ever since it was unearthed in July 2025, which is why it is surprising why the former Department of Public Works and Highways chief suddenly is being touted as the key witness to pin the ex-Speaker down. /mr