FORMER Public Works Sec. Manuel Bonoan has not linked former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to flood control anomalies, a spokesman for the Leyte 1st district congressman said Thursday.
Atty. Ade Fajardo also said the former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary is the one deeply involved in the flood control projects.
Fajardo described Bonoan as the “most polluted,” “very biased” and “not the least guilty” source, and expressed surprise why the Office of the Ombudsman is accepting him as a state witness.
In fact, he said the former DPWH chief should be made to return to the national treasury P1 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects he supposedly received as claimed by former DPWH undersecretary-turned-state witness Roberto Bernardo.
At the same time, he reiterated that Romualdez had no role in the funding, selection and implementation of flood control projects, that this was all under the control of the executive branch and that the former Speaker is ready to face whatever charges the Ombudsman may file against him.
He said he was worried about the Ombudsman’s recent statements that it intends to use Bonoan’s testimony to prove the former House leader’s supposed involvement in flood control irregularities.
“Lubhang nakakabahala, it’s very alarming. Because even way before these events…ay hindi po nababangit si Cong. Martin Romualdez ni dating Sec. Manuel Bonoan,” Fajardo said.
He said the former DPWH chief did not mention the former Speaker even in the statement Bonoan submitted to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that investigated the flood control scam.
And now all of a sudden, Bonoan is reportedly ready to implicate the Leyte congressman, he added.
“Even sa submission niya sa ICI, wala pong banggit na papel na ginampanan si dating Speaker Martin Romualdez dito sa flood control issue. Then all of a sudden parang walang kaso, walang ebidensya, walang patunay sa kanyang supposed role dito sa flood control project, ay nandito nababanggit na ang kanyang pangalan,” he stressed.
Fajardo pointed out that more than a year after the flood control scandal erupted, it is only now that Bonoan is supposedly ready to implicate the Leyte congressman.
“Nakakabahala na isang taon na ang nakalipas at ngayon lang niya babanggitin for the first time para lang sabihin at ma-discharge siya, mabigyan siya ng immunity, hindi na siya makukulong dahil sasabihin lang niya ang magic words na Martin Romualdez,” he said.
Citing the statement of former Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson, he said Bonoan should be asked to return P1 billion to the government.
“Hindi po magandang pangitain ‘yan, especially since even Sen. Ping Lacson has said at least P1 billion as mentioned by former Undersecretary Bernardo ang napunta dapat i-restitute, isauli ni former Sec. Bonoan sa kaban ng bayan,” he emphasized.
Fajardo emphasized that it would be difficult for the Ombudsman to accept or make Bonoan a state witness.
He said the former DPWH chief is “speculating or guessing” on the alleged role of Romualdez in the flood control scam to save his own skin.
He said the plan to link Romualdez to the flood control scandal is intended to give credibility to the claim that a “big fish” is involved, since the Leyte congressman is related to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Puro speculation, hula-hula po, kasi napakadali…parang napaka-convenient na sisihin si dating Speaker Romualdez because precisely it’s common knowledge na kamag-anak niya ang nakaupong Pangulo ng Pilipinas ngayon,” he said.
“So parang its a popular position to take, name someone supposedly or they think very close to the official family para lang magkaroon ng credibility or ang sinasabi nilang ‘big fish’,” he added.
Fajardo pointed out that Bonoan’s intention in his supposed attempt to link Romualdez is obvious.
“Nakakabahala po ‘yan at dahil ang supposedly sa sasabihin niyang pangalan ni former Speaker Martin Ramaldez, ay ngayon all of a sudden mawawalan na siya ng sala dahil hindi na siya ipo-prosecute to the fullest extent of the law for his, may I say major participation in the flood control issues, and the flood control anomalies,” he said.
“But it just underscores the fact na talagang hindi siya least guilty dito. His participation was direct and repeated for several times when he was secretary for several years in the DPWH. Kaya pakiramdam namin dito dahil sa walang ibidensya po laban kay dating Speaker Martin Romualdez, ngayon ay lumalabas itong mga supposedly planned testimony of the former secretary,” he said.
In any case, he said the Leyte congressman, as in the past, is ready to face whatever charges might be brought against him, even if there is no evidence against him.
“In fact, handa po kami sa mga susunod na mga proceedings, whether or not this will proceed actually to court cases. But as of this time, we can say confidently na talagang wala pong ebidensya na maipresenta. Kaya kung anu-ano na lang ang mga reports tulad nitong belated statement, supposedly, from former Sec. Bonoan,” he stressed.
“Wala pong attempt, wala pong kaisipan ang ating former Speaker na tumakas po sa obligasyon o pananagutan kung meron…he has always maintained, there is no such anomalous transaction to back up yung allegations against him,” he added.
The lawyer said it’s unfortunate that there is an attempt to elicit testimony from the “most polluted source.”
“Nakakalungkot po na humantong tayo sa ganitong pagkakataon na we will elicit supposed testimony not from an innocent person but from the most polluted source that you can possibly elicit it from,” Fajardo said.
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