Then Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers a speech, September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman said Friday it now has a total of 42 witnesses in its case-building against former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez over the alleged flood control kickback scheme.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the figure consists of 28 new witnesses and 14 ex-bodyguards of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
“Twenty-eight are the new witnesses that the investigators deemed necessary so that we can controvert the recantations. So that's 28 new ones plus the 14 that had been remaining from the 18 [ex-bodyguards],” Clavano said.
Romualdez camp surprised with Ombudsman’s 28 more witnesses
Clavano said the Ombudsman was more concerned with the quality of the witnesses’ statements than their number.
“We don't want this to be a numbers game. They (Romualdez’s camp) have 25 [witnesses], we have 42, but that's not the point… it's not yung pataasan ng number. Ang gusto naming malinawan dito ay quality po ng sinasabi ng mga tao,” he said.
Clavano said the office would examine both the original affidavits and recantations in their ongoing probe.
“The fact that there are recantations or that affidavits were executed to the effect that they have reversed what they said in their first affidavit does not serve as an eraser of facts,” he said.
“The first affidavit will still be there but the second affidavit will now be paired with the first affidavit to determine which amongst the two is actually the truth,” he added.
Clavano said the recantations could even raise additional questions for investigators, especially if irregularities or bribery were established.
“It adds evidence. It does not reduce the evidence of our investigators,” he said.
Romualdez has denied the allegations and said in July that he will submit to legal processes.
"Naninindigan akong wala akong ginawang anumang labag sa batas. At handa akong patunayan ito," he said after his cousin President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned charges that would soon be filed against him.
(I maintain that I did nothing illegal. And I am ready to prove it.)
Ombudsman: Witness recantations do not erase earlier claims vs Romualdez
BERSAMIN, OLAIVAR NOT OFF THE HOOK
Upon being asked on the status of the probe on Former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) chief Adrian Bersamin and former DepEd Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said they were included in the grand conspiracy to defraud the national treasury case being prepared against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“That case is still in fact-finding, and we are sifting through the facts and the documents that were given to us not only by the House of Representatives but as well as the recommendations and the documents given to us by the ICI as well as DPWH,” Clavano said.
“We don't work that in the sense na meron kaming target tapos hahabuli namin ng ebidensya. Ang mauna kasi talaga ang ebidensya. So wherever the evidence goes, we will follow,” he added.
Bersamin and Olaivar were both implicated by state witness former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo in the flood control kickback scheme.
“Pinakikinggan namin talaga siya (Bernardo). Of course, because he is a state witness and he has been cooperating with us, we do find him credible and the statements that he has issued before are being used as leads to point us in the right direction. It's just that all of these things that we're investigating were done undercover,” he said.
Clavano said their special panel of investigators has until Aug. 31 to file its reply to Romualdez’s supplemental counter-affidavit, after which the case is expected to be submitted for resolution.
Once the case is submitted for resolution, the panel will have 10 to 15 days to issue its resolution, Clavano said.
PULONG DUTERTE’S CLAIM ON DAVAO FLOOD PROJECTS
Meanwhile, Clavano responded to Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte’s claim that Davao is not an epicenter of anomalous flood control projects because projects in his district were completed during his term.
Clavano said the completion of a project does not necessarily mean it is free from irregularities.
“Well, there is such a thing as overspec. Meaning, yung specs po ng project ay masyadong mataas at yung na-deliver lang ay ganito lang. So it could be complete on its face, but it's possible that those parts of the project na hindi kita, are not seen right away, are actually of quality,” Clavano said.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier described Davao City as an “epicenter” of flood control projects implemented under previous administrations.
“When he says epicenter, it means that there was a lot of funds brought down from the national government to Davao for flood control projects, but there was no mention whatsoever with regards to the corruption that may have been there, no, sa budget na yon. So other than that, he had no other comment,” Clavano said.
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MOTION FOR INHIBITION VS JUSTICE MORENO
Asked about the prosecution’s motion seeking the inhibition of Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, Clavano said the motion was filed after investigators raised concerns over the conduct of the justice.
“We filed it because the investigators felt that the conduct of a justice should not go into the realm of hostility. I believe the motion had already been made public,” Clavano said.
Moreno earlier voted to grant former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. bail in his malversation case involving an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
In the motion electronically filed on Monday, the prosecution claimed that Moreno allegedly exhibited "unwarranted conduct" that raised a "perception of partiality" against witnesses they presented in bail hearings and other court proceedings.