Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan is the “most polluted" source of testimony when it comes to the flood control projects corruption scandal.

Thus, said the spokesperson of Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, lawyer Ade Fajardo, amid the Ombudsman’s recent statements that it intended to use Bonoan’s testimony to prove the former House Speaker's alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.

Fajardo described Bonoan as the “most polluted", “very biased” and “not the least guilty” source, and expressed surprise why the Office of the Ombudsman was accepting him as a state witness.

According to Romualdez's mouthpiece, it's Bonoan who is the one deeply involved in flood control projects.

Fajardo went as far to say that the former DPWH chief should be made to return to the national treasury P1 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects he supposedly received as claimed by former DPWH undersecretary-turned-state witness Roberto Bernardo.

At the same time, he reiterated that Romualdez had no role in the funding, selection and implementation of flood control projects. These, Fajardo said, were all under the control of the executive branch.

As for the Ombudsman's preference for Bonoan as state witness, the lawyer said it was "very alarming".

“Because even way before these events…ay hindi po nababangit si Cong. Martin Romualdez ni dating Sec. Manuel Bonoan (former Sec. Manuel Bonoan haven't been mentioning Cong. Martin Romualdez),” Fajardo said.

He said Bonoan did not even mention the former Speaker in the statement the former submitted to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) that investigated the flood control projects mess.

'Magic words'

And now all of a sudden, Bonoan is reportedly ready to implicate the Leyte congressman, Fajardo added.

“Even sa submission niya sa ICI, wala pong banggit na papel na ginampanan si dating Speaker Martin Romualdez dito sa flood control issue. Then all of a sudden parang walang kaso, walang ebidensya, walang patunay sa kanyang supposed role dito sa flood control project, ay nandito nababanggit na ang kanyang pangalan,” he stressed.

(Even in her submission to the ICI, there was no mention of any role played by former Speaker Martin Romualdez in the flood control issue. Then all of a sudden, without a case, without evidence, without proof of his supposed role in the flood control project, his name is being mentioned here.)

“Nakakabahala na isang taon na ang nakalipas at ngayon lang niya babanggitin for the first time para lang sabihin at ma-discharge siya, mabigyan siya ng immunity, hindi na siya makukulong dahil sasabihin lang niya ang magic words na 'Martin Romualdez',” he noted, with a bit of sarcasm.

(It is alarming that a year has passed and only now is she mentioning for the first time, just to say it and be discharged, to be granted immunity, to avoid imprisonment simply by uttering the magic words 'Martin Romualdez'.)

"Nakakalungkot po na humantong tayo sa ganitong pagkakataon na (It’s saddening that we have reached this point that) we will elicit supposed testimony not from an innocent person but from the most polluted source that you can possibly elicit it from,” Fajardo said.

Recalling the statement of former Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Senator Panfilo Lacson, Fajardo said Bonoan should be asked to return P1 billion to the government.

“Hindi po magandang pangitain ‘yan, especially since even Sen. Ping Lacson has said at least P1 billion as mentioned by former Undersecretary Bernardo ang napunta dapat i-restitute, isauli ni former Sec. Bonoan sa kaban ng bayan,” he underscored.

(That is not a good sign, especially since even Sen. Ping Lacson has said that at least P1 billion, as mentioned by former Undersecretary Bernardo, should be restituted, returned by former Secretary Bonoan to the national treasury.)

Fajardo further said the former DPWH chief was “speculating or guessing” on the alleged role of Romualdez in the flood control scam to save his own skin.

If anything, he said the plan to link Romualdez to the flood control scandal was intended to give credibility to the claim that a “big fish” was involved, since the Leyte congressman is President Marcos' cousin.

Fajardo says Romualdez, as in the past, is ready to face whatever charges might be brought against him.

"In fact, handa po kami sa mga susunod na mga proceedings, whether or not this will proceed actually to court cases. But as of this time, we can say confidently na talagang wala pong ebidensya na maipresenta," he said.

(In fact, we are prepared for the upcoming proceedings, whether or not these actually move to court cases. But as of this time, we can confidently say that there is truly no evidence to present.)