Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) on Wednesday pressed the Office of the Ombudsman to deny Tacloban City Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s bid to leave the country amid the flood control controversy, warning that the former House Speaker could escape accountability if allowed to travel abroad.
In a statement, BAYAN said the “suspiciously slow and selective” corruption probe has emboldened Romualdez to seek permission to fly to Singapore for a medical checkup.
“Even as we hold him one of those principally liable for the flood control scam, we demand that all those implicated in the massive and systemic corruption to be immediately prosecuted and arrested,” BAYAN declared.
The Ombudsman on Monday announced readiness to file charges against suspected masterminds in trillion-peso budget insertions that allegedly funded ghost and substandard flood control projects. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla also requested a hold departure order against Romualdez, prompting the lawmaker to release a video statement denying involvement.
Romualdez insisted he was not part of the Bicameral and Small Committee budget deliberations since assuming the speakership in July 2022.
“Records would show that I did not participate in those meetings and I was not privy to what exactly transpired during the deliberations. However, two people were instrumental in making those budget decisions: Chiz Escudero and Zaldy Co,” Romualdez said.
He further challenged the Ombudsman to pursue evidence without political bias: “If your office truly believes in justice, then follow the sworn statements, follow the records, and follow the evidence all the way. Do not stop where it is politically convenient.”
BAYAN, however, stressed that accountability should not stop with Romualdez. The group urged the Ombudsman to investigate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., “who drafted, signed, and implemented the budget containing anomalous allocables, insertions, and unprogrammed appropriations.” # (ZIA LUNA)
