AFTER months of blabbering, the Office of the Ombudsman has no more reason to delay the filing of plunder complaints against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In its 104-page supplemental complaint dated July 20, the Ombudsman’s special panel of investigators recommended the filing of plunder charges against Romualdez over alleged kickbacks from flood control projects covering the years when he was still the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
According to the panel, Romualdez funneled kickbacks to holding companies owned by one of his close associates.
Aside from plunder, the panel also recommended additional complaints arising from direct bribery, graft and corruption and money laundering against the Leyte congressman.
Other prominent personalities dragged by the panel include former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, lawyer Jose Raulito Paras, two other individuals, a law firm, and a foreign exchange company and five of its board members.
Assistant Ombudsman Eliseo Cruz, the head of the investigation panel, certified the 104-page supplemental complaint-affidavit.
Earlier this week, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano claimed that the criminal complaints against Romualdez is one step away from determining whether or not cases should be filed before the Sandiganbayan.
In its affidavit, the panel disclosed kickbacks ranging from 10 to 25 percent of the contract price, as previously claimed by state witness and former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
“The funds were transported in luggage or suitcases and were typically coursed through aides or drivers to ensure the anonymity of the primary recipients,” reads part of the supplemental complaint-affidavit.
During “congressional investigations in aid of legislation,” Co’s security personnel admitted delivering various sizes of suitcases containing cash — P15 million to 25 million stuffed in small suitcases, P30 million to P40 million for mid-sized “maletas,” and P50 million to P70 million for each of the big suitcases.
The supplemental complaint tagged “several corporate entities appear to have been utilized as conduits for the diversion and disposition of substantial amounts of funds through the abuse of public office and the use of dummies, nominees and closely-held corporations.”
At least five holding companies linked to the former Speaker’s Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity brother Atty. Jose Raulito Paras, were used in the scheme — Golden Pheasant Holdings Corp., Clearspring Holdings Corp., Brightnews Corp., Braavos Holdings OPC, and Valiant Consolidated Resources Inc.
Meanwhile, lawyer Elaine Atienza in her capacity as the former Speaker’s legal counsel, said Romualdez will be proven innocent under an impartial court.
“We believe that if there will be a fair fight and a fair judgment based on evidence, Rep. Romualdez will prove his side. We only ask the public to allow the process and evidence to decide the case,” Atienza noted.
Assets of Romualdez have been ordered frozen in April by the Court of Appeals at the request of the AMLC.
The Sandiganbayan also issued a precautionary hold departure order against him at the request of the Office of the Ombudsman.
