THE SENATE BLUE Ribbon Committee is all set to release a list of personalities who will be recommended for preliminary investigation in relation to the flood control scandal.
The list however would not include former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The reason — there isn’t enough evidence linking him to the anomalous infrastructure projects.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson however hinted at recommending the continued gathering of evidence against Romualdez in relation to his alleged links to the flood control controversy.
“In the case of Speaker Romualdez, hindi siya for preliminary investigation kasi nga walang validation, walang corroboration unlike dun sa iba,” the senator in reference to the testimony of “whistleblower Orly Guteza.
“Kay Speaker Romualdez, ang recommendation doon sa kanya i-pursue yung mga ebidensya na nakalap patungo sa preliminary investigation. Pero wala pa dun. So more on fact-finding o case build up at saka ‘yung inirecommend siya para yung AMLC, magsagawa ng tracking nung mga movement ng accounts,” he added.
But in case new evidence corroborating Guteza’s claim would come out, Lacson hinted at the possibility of recommending the conduct of a preliminary investigation against the former House Speaker.
“In the case of Speaker Romualdez, kasi ‘di ba ang naging basehan lang sa pag-rekomenda sa kanya yung statement ni Guteza. Hindi pa naman kami umaabot doon sa huling pagdinig kasi partial nga ito eh,” Lacson averred.
“At saka kung magkakaroon ng pagdinig ng halimbawang merong validation or corroboration doon sa pagli-link kay former Speaker Romualdez, sa final report ng Blue Ribbon, mapapalitan yun. Isasama na siya dun sa irerekomenda for preliminary investigation.”
In his testimony at the senate blue ribbon committee in September last year, Guteza claimed that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
Romualdez and Co have since denied allegations .
Atty. Petchie Rose Espera, the lawyer whose notarial information appeared on Guteza’s affidavit likewise denied that the signature affixed in the document was hers. She also said the document number, page number, and book number shown in the document do not exist in her notarial records.
In November last year, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) found “guilt or liability” on the part of Romualdez. The ICI said the transmittal was “made without prejudice to the Commission to accept or receive additional evidence, if any, concerning former Speaker Romualdez.”
