Former Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed Tuesday to share all information he knows with the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to help ‘speed up’ its investigation into the corruption in government infrastructure projects nationwide.
Romualdez made the statement on his arrival at the ICI headquarters in Taguig City.
‘I am ready to feed my personal knowledge on the budget process, and while not a member of the bicameral conference committee, I will share all information to help determine the truth and to give all the facts and information,’ he said in a chance interview.
‘I will be here to help in any way to speed up the resolution of the fact-finding investigation for ICI,’ he added.
In a separate statement, Romualdez also maintained that he is not hiding anything.
‘Wala akong itinatago at walang dapat itago (I am not hiding anything and I don’t have to hide anything),’ said Romualdez.
‘.My presence here reflects my commitment to state the truth and not allow politics to prevail,’ he added.
Romualdez attended the hearing after being subpoenaed by the ICI to ‘discuss his familiarity and personal knowledge as Speaker of the House relative to the National Budget insertions, as well as the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) flood control projects.’
His appearance before the ICI also marks his first participation in any of the government’s investigations into the alleged corruption in infrastructure programs.
At the conclusion of the hearing, ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said Romualdez is set to be invited back again after he voluntarily submitted an affidavit to the commission.
The former speaker is among the lawmakers implicated in the flood control corruption scandal, following claims by a former security consultant of former Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co that he received kickbacks from government projects-an allegation Romualdez has since denied. /apl/abc /gsg