MANILA, Philippines – Ayon sa Department of Justice nitong Biyernes na hindi nila kinukonsiderang state witness sa flood control anomalies si Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
“The Department of Justice formally denies reports that former Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez is currently being considered as a state witness. There is no factual or legal basis to this misinformation,” ayon kay bagong DOJ spokesperson Raphael Martinez.
Para maisaalang-alang bilang state witness, dapat aniya munang maghain ng aplikasyon sa DOJ sa pamamagitan ng Witness Protection, Security and Benefits Program (WPSB).
Ang aplikasyon ay susuriin upang matiyak kung ang aplikante ay kuwalipikado o hindi bilang state witness.
“As of date, former Speaker Martin Romualdez has not filed an application for state witness with the DOJ,” saad ni Martinez.
Samantala, tiniyak ni Martinez sa publiko na ang lahat ng pagsisiyasat ay gagawin “mabilis at patas,” at “walang maliligtas” kung totoo ang ebidensya.
Binalaan din ng ahensya ang publiko na huwag malinlang ng mga maling katotohanan o pampulitikang propaganda na nagpapaikut-ikot o gumagamit ng mga legal na termino para lituhin ang publiko.
“We remind the public to rely on verified and official information coming from the DOJ exclusively. The Department of Justice remain firm and steadfast in our commitment to uphold the rule of law, guided by facts — not politics,” ayon kay DOJ spox.
Samantala, ang Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) noong Biyernes ay nagpatuloy sa kanilang inter-agency coordination meeting kasama ang mga kinatawan mula sa Department of Health at Department of Education. RNT/MND
