Romualdez says he’s staying put as flood control probe deepens

National

CONTROVERSIAL lawmaker Martin Romualdez is staying — and says he is ready to face the flood control probe, according to his lawyer.

His lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said the representative of Leyte’s first district and former House speaker, continues to perform his duties as a lawmaker and attend to his constituents.

“Congressman Romualdez is not fleeing; he has remained in the country… He is attending to his constituents and, of course, he is complying with his legislative function as Leyte representative,” Fajardo said in a Philstar report.

Fajardo said Romualdez is prepared to answer the allegations against him through the proper process and is seeking fairness and an equal opportunity to address the accusations.

The lawyer maintained that there is no evidence linking the former House leader to the alleged irregularities. He said Romualdez was not involved in the enactment of the 2025 national budget, apart from signing it, nor in the implementation of flood control projects.

According to Fajardo, the absence of evidence against Romualdez was also among the findings of the now-defunct Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

Fajardo also rejected as not credible and “lies” the statements of 18 alleged bagmen who had served as bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co.

The lawyer pointed out that the Ombudsman had earlier characterized their accounts as part of efforts to destabilize the Marcos administration.

He also noted that the Department of Justice had filed perjury charges against the 18 alleged bagmen, or the so-called “maleta boys.”(MyTVCebu)