Ombudsman Speaks on Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez amid the Flood Control Investigations
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – The Ombudsman revealed that they have turned down the request of the former House Speaker to be allowed travel to Singapore.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had a change of leadership after the flood control issue broke out. Several members of the lower chamber and some members of the upper chamber were tagged in the supposed multi-billion corruption that triggered thousands of people to protest in the streets.
Former House Speaker and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez is one of those who were tagged in the flood control mess and maintained his innocence. He stressed that he is a self-made man and he does not need to corrupt money that do not belong to him.
However, several witnesses made accusations against Romualdez. Even former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero boldly expressed his belief that Romualdez is allegedly behind the accusations against the senators. The presidential cousin stepped down from the House Speakership.
Former House Budget Appropriations Committee chairman Zaldy Co also made accusations against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Co is accused as one of the alleged main role players in the flood control mess.
According to Zaldy Co, the President and the former House Speaker allegedly pocketed billions of money from the national fund through budget insertions. He also claimed that Romualdez supposedly told him to stay out of the country as per the order of Marcos Jr.
The Palace denied the accusations of the former Congressman. Recently, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Zaldy Co has been arrested and detained in Prague. He also revealed that the Philippine authorities are exerting efforts to bring him back to the country.
“We will bring Zaldy Co home and we will do so in accordance with the law. He will answer to the Filipino people,” the President said.
Based on News5, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly sought to be allowed to fly to Singapore for a checkup. According to Ombudsman Boying Remulla, the Leyte Congressman’s request was denied.
“We did not respond favorably to the request that he’d be allowed to leave… Hindi namin pinayagan na ma-lift ‘yung bulletin niya kasi nga naka-lookout order because we’ve been investigating actively,” Remulla said.
According to the Ombudsman, former Speaker Martin Romualdez is asking to be allowed to be out of the country for five (5) days. Based on the post, the authorities wanted to avoid the scenario that he might not come back citing its timing with the arrest of Zaldy Co, thus, they rejected the request of the former House Speaker.
“Ang problema diyan, para namang sobrang coincidental na nahuli si Zaldy Co sa Europe, bigla siyang aalis. Nag-iingat lang po tayo,” the Ombudsman said.
However, amid the reports about the arrest and detention of the former Congressman in Prague, the Czech authorities remain mum on the reported arrest and detention of Zaldy Co.
