Rep. Martin Romualdez delivers a speech as he steps down from his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives, September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that cases would be filed against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, despite the recantation of some potential witnesses.
“Oo, ba't hindi? Andun na eh,” Remulla told reporters.
Ombudsman: 42 witnesses in Romualdez case
Remulla downplayed the impact of the recent recantation of some of the former staff of ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, including Orly Guteza, who claimed to have made cash deliveries to Romualdez.
“Wala yung recantation. Yung recantation, smokescreen lang nila 'yon para mawala yung iinit sa kanila. That's only a small part of the case. Wala 'yan. Syempre, pini-play up 'yan ng mga abogado niya,” he said.
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“Andyan lang 'yan,” he said of the looming cases. “We're not stopping and we have not stopped and we have been working hard and it will come out very soon.”
“Basta ano lang kayo, relax lang kayo. Andiyan na 'yan,” he said.
Ombudsman: Witness recantations do not erase earlier claims vs Romualdez
But Remulla sidestepped the media's attempts to get him to reveal a time table.
“Basta marami 'yan. Andiyan na 'yan. Hindi, ayaw kong magbigay ng specific answer diyan. Basta makikita niyo na lang. Andiyan na 'yan,” he said.
Remulla said they wanted to make sure they file a strong case as Romualdez has a lot of resources.
“Marami lang kailangang talagang tapusin at kumpunahin para maganda ang pagkakagawa ng kaso. Hindi kasi pwedeng magpa-file diyan ng mahihinang kaso. Sobrang daming pera niyan… Sobrang daming abogado,” he said.
Romualdez previously said the affidavits of Guteza and 25 others do not only "destroy the reliability and credibility of principal witness accounts”, several of them also claimed they were offered money in exchange for signing a prepared affidavit.
Romualdez says Guteza recantation, affidavits 'cast doubt' on his links to flood control scam
For these reasons, the former House Speaker argued that the Ombudsman should “not allow” the complaints against him to proceed.
— Report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News