Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s spokesperson claimed that former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan is being forced to produce evidence against the lawmaker, saying it appears there is no document linking Romualdez to the infrastructure corruption issues.
In a radio interview, Atty. Ade Fajardo said they believe Bonoan ‘more likely has nothing to say’ but is being placed in a precarious position after investigators claimed he would be a key witness against Romualdez.
‘That’s why it’s hard to force him, and you will also place Secretary Bonoan in a dangerous position by making up these certain things that he cannot say, because that will be hard to do,’ Fajardo told DZRH, according to transcripts released to reporters.
‘It appears that there is an effort to force the production of evidence against Congressman Romualdez when the truth is there is nothing to produce,’ he added.
Fajardo did not identify who proposed tapping Bonoan as a state witness. However, on June 30, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano admitted the decision to tap Bonoan as a state witness was made to strengthen the case against Romualdez.
Fajardo also said that if former Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. was granted bail-indicating that the allegations against him were weak-there would be even less basis to implicate former House Speaker Romualdez.
‘If (former) Senator Revilla had a DPWH undersecretary who himself said he delivered money, but Sandiganbayan still considered that insufficient evidence, what more for the former speaker of the House when there is no such testimony,’ the lawyer added.
According to Fajardo, the supposed evidence against Romualdez consists only of what he described as ‘baseless stories’ by the 18 bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co.
‘There is no CCTV footage, no photos, no evidence. Everything seems to be based on stories and statements of individuals whose affidavits have been proven unbelievable,’ he added.
Romualdez’s camp has repeatedly maintained that Bonoan is under pressure from the Office of the Ombudsman.
On July 2, Romualdez’s lawyer Elaine Atienza maintained that attempts to link the Leyte lawmaker to the issues ‘are not supported by evidence,’ arguing that the former House speaker could not have exercised total control over the entire budget process.
Atienza also said Bonoan did not implicate Romualdez in past investigations and congressional hearings because the lawmaker was not involved in the alleged anomalous insertions.
Fajardo said on July 9 that Bonoan might have been pressured to testify against Romualdez by the threat of being transferred to an ordinary jail facility.
The lawyer explained that the possibility of being moved from hospital arrest once Bonoan is medically cleared may have weighed heavily on his mind, especially given his advanced age.
Romualdez has maintained his innocence.
After he was barred from flying to Singapore for a medical checkup in April, Romualdez broke his silence, asking how he could be the mastermind of the alleged scheme when Congress does not solely craft the annual budget or implement projects.
Romualdez said budget preparation begins not in Congress but in the executive branch, which crafts and submits the National Expenditures Program.
He has not been linked to any of the companies that carried out the flood control projects. However, contractor-couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya named him as one of the lawmakers who allegedly received kickbacks from the contracts awarded to them.
Co, who chaired the House committee on appropriations during Romualdez’s term as speaker, later released a video accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former members of his Cabinet, and Romualdez of being behind insertions in the 2025 national budget.
Co also backed a Senate witness’ claim that money in luggage was delivered to Marcos and Romualdez. However, Co’s statements were questioned for being inconsistent with the budget process.