The camp of former House Speaker, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez has vowed to give "full answer" once the Office of the Ombudsman files its advertised charges against him.

This, as Romualdez's spokesperson, lawyer Elaine Atienza, highlighted on Monday night, July 20, no criminal case has been filed against the Visayas lawmaker and that the proceedings remain at the preliminary investigation stage.

In other words, Atienza says the Ombudsman’s announcement only covers the start of a preliminary investigation and does not amount to a finding of liability.

“The Office of the Ombudsman itself made one thing unmistakably clear today: Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has not been convicted of any offense, no criminal case has been filed before the Sandiganbayan, and he has not yet even been given the opportunity to answer the allegations against him,” she said.

“The announcement pertains only to the commencement of a preliminary investigation, where respondents are afforded the opportunity to present their side, and where the constitutional presumption of innocence remains fully in force,” she noted.

“Rep. Romualdez has not yet been formally served with a copy of the complaint. Once we receive it, sasagot po kami nang buong-buo (we will answer in full),” she said.

The Office of the Ombudsman said earlier Monday that it was planning to file plunder and money laundering charges against Romualdez.

She said the legal process should proceed in the proper forum based on evidence rather than public accusations.

“We respect all legal processes. That is precisely why we believe this matter should be resolved where our laws require it to be resolved—in the proper legal forum, after both sides have been fully heard,” said the lawyer.

Atienza says the two-time former Speaker remains confident he will be able to clear his name once the evidence is examined.

“We remain confident that once the facts are examined objectively and the evidence is tested under the law, Rep. Romualdez will be able to clear his name,” she said.

For months now, Romualdez's name has been linked to the flood control projects corruption scandal, mainly due to his alleged control over the national budget has House leader.

Romualdez and his lawyers have repeatedly poked holes into this allegation, saying it is simple not possible under the budget process. 

Atienza also denied allegations that the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president was avoiding the legal process.

“We deny in the strongest possible way any insinuation that Rep. Romualdez has attempted to evade the legal process. Uulitin po namin: kailanman ay hindi nagtago si Rep. Romualdez,” Atienza said.

(We deny in the strongest possible way any insinuation that Rep. Romualdez has attempted to evade the legal process. We repeat: Rep. Romualdez has never gone into hiding.)

“Hinarap nya ang ICI, at haharapin nya ang Office of the Ombudsman. Siya po ay nasa bansa at mananatili sa bansa until such time that he will be able to clear his name," the lawyer further said.

(He faced the ICI, and he will face the Office of the Ombudsman. He is in the country and will remain in the country until such time that he is able to clear his name.)