MANILA, Philippines – Ang referral sa Ombudsman ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) kaugnay kay Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez ay para sa mas malalim na imbestigasyon at inisyu “without any finding or conclusion of guilt or liability on the part of former Speaker Romualdez.”
Sa dalawang pahinang referral na tinanggap ng Ombudsman noong Biyernes, sinabi ng ICI na ang transmittal ay “made without prejudice to the Commission to accept or receive additional evidence, if any, concerning former Speaker Romualdez.”
“This Referral is issued without any finding or conclusion of guilt or liability on the part of Former Speaker Romualdez,” saad sa kopya ng dokumento na inilabas ng ICI nitong Lunes, Nobyembre 23.
Sinabi pa ng ICI na ang transmittal ay “solely to ensure that all acts, omissions, and surrounding circumstances properly falling within the Ombudsman’s constitutional and statutory authority–particularly those involving high-ranking officials–are subjected to the processes under Article XI, Section 13 of the Constitution and Republic Act No. 6770.”
“The Commission underscores that referring the matter at this stage is intended to permit the Honorable Office of the Ombudsman to promptly and immediately undertake its own fact-finding inquiry, consistent with established principles of coordination and to avoid duplicative or fragmented investigations,” sinabi pa.
Anila, ang Ombudsman ay may kakayahan na tumukoy kung ang mga pangyayari ay naglalagay sa criminal o administrative accountability sa ilalim ng Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, at Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards, “as the constitutionally designated disciplinary authority over public officials.”
Matatandaan na noong Biyernes ay iniulat na inirekomenda na ng ICI at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang paghahain ng reklamong plunder, graft, at bribery laban kina Romualdez at dating Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
Ani ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka ay mayroong dalawang referral.
“Dalawa ‘yun. Yung isa sa DPWH. It was joint in the sense that we submitted together. Kasi ‘yung isa naman, referral namin, is when we submitted evidence and documents pertaining to that referral of the DPWH to help the Ombudsman further investigate the matter,” sinabi ni Hosaka.
“So ‘yun ‘yung naging joint submission, as far as the DPWH and ICI [are] concerned,” dagdag pa.
Itinanggi naman nina Romualdez at Co ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanila.
Si Co ay umalis ng bansa at napaulat na huling namataan sa Japan. RNT/JGC
