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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lawyer reiterates Ombudman's lack of evidence vs Romualdez; seeks case dismissal

Lawyer reiterates Ombudman's lack of evidence vs Romualdez; seeks case dismissal

Published Aug 27, 2026 04:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Lawyer Ade Fajardo insisted the Ombudsman had no case against Martin Romualdez, as he cited the withdrawal of accusations by 32 witnesses including alleged bagman Orly Guteza.
  • Fajardo emphasized that no credible witness, contractor, or DPWH official had linked Romualdez to the alleged flood control scam.
  • Former PLM president Judd Roy echoed calls to dismiss the case absent evidence.
Lawyer Ade Fajardo (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Lawyer Ade Fajardo (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez’s legal counsel reiterated on Thursday, Aug. 27 that the Office of the Ombudsman had no case whatsoever against the former House Speaker in connection with the flood control projects corruption scandal.
As such, lawyer Ade Fajardo said there was no reason for the Ombudsman to file a case against Romualdez, as he pointed to the withdrawal of accusations by 32 previous witnesses, including alleged bagman Orly Guteza.
“Wala po kaming nakikitang dahilan kaya ang aming panalangin, ang aming hiling sa tanggapan ng Ombudsman ay i-dismiss na po ito, ibasura na itong reklamo laban kay former Speaker Romualdez,” Fajardo said.
(We see no reason for this, so our appeal and request to the Ombudsman is to dismiss this and throw out the complaint against former Speaker Romualdez.)
Fajardo said the witnesses who withdrew their accusations were former personnel of ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. Co is facing an arrest warrant from the Sandiganbayan over his alleged involvement in the flood control scam.
“Wala pong credible witness, kasi nga marami ng naglabasan na mga cross witnesses na sinasabing walang nangyaring ganyang delivery ng maleta eh. Eto po ay galing na sa iisang grupo. Pareho silang mga drivers, security, administrative aide ni former Congressman Zaldy Co,” he said.
(“here is no credible witness because many cross-witnesses have come forward saying that no such delivery of bags happened. They all came from the same group. They were all drivers, security personnel, and administrative aides of former Congressman Zaldy Co.)
Fajardo, a former national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), said no witness directly linked Romualdez to the alleged kickback deliveries of cash-filled luggages or "maletas".
He noted that even former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan had not implicated his client in the supposed scheme.
“Wala rin kahit sinong district engineer or assistant district engineer o kahit sinong personnel on ground, kasi nga wala namang iniuugnay na kahit anong particular na proyekto tungkol sa flood control na hindi nangyari or hindi ginawa or pinakialaman ni former Speaker Romualdez,” he said.
(There is also no district engineer, assistant district engineer or any personnel on the ground who has linked any particular flood control project that did not happen, was not implemented, or was manipulated by former Speaker Romualdez.)
Fajardo added that no contractor had implicated Romualdez either. He also questioned the Ombudsman’s reported claim that it had 28 new witnesses against the former Speaker.
“'Yun ang naging statement last week ng tanggapan ng Ombudsman. Pero hanggang ngayon po hindi pa namin nakikita or nababasa or nalalaman kung sino itong 28 witnesses,” he said.
(That was the statement made by the Ombudsman’s office last week. But until now, we have not seen, read about, or learned who these 28 witnesses are.)
'Iatras mo muna yan'
Separately, former Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) president and law dean Judd Roy said the Ombudsman should not file a case against Romualdez if it does not have sufficient evidence to support the allegations.
“Kung wala pang ebidensiya laban kay Romualdez, puwes iatras mo muna 'yang kaso nayan,” Roy said in a radio interview.
(If there is still no evidence against Romualdez, then withdraw that case for now.)
Roy said the Ombudsman could not simply disregard affidavits from witnesses who had retracted their accusations, including Guteza, who previously claimed to have delivered flood control payoffs to Romualdez.
“Siguro naman dito, ang sinasabi ni Guteza iba. Di lamang siya nagkamali, siya ay pinangakuan ng pera at siya ay pinilit. Paanong gagawin natin ngayon…Pinapahindian na ni Orly Guteza na siya ang ugat ng lahat ng itong mga maleta at basura,” Roy said.
(In Guteza’s case, what he is saying now is different. He did not merely make a mistake; he was promised money and pressured. What are we supposed to do now? Orly Guteza is already denying that he was the source of all these claims about the bags and the alleged wrongdoing.)
Guteza, a former Marine soldier and alleged bagman for Co, has retracted his testimony and claimed that he was pressured by Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor to fabricate his accusations against Romualdez.
Roy said this could make it difficult for the Ombudsman to rely on Guteza’s original statements and those of other former Co aides.
“Sinasabi niya na ngayon na hindi totoo yan. Ako’y pinilit lamang ni Defensor at ni Marcoleta. Papano natin ngayon aasahan…Tapos yung pinapakitang video oh, malinaw na malinaw na siya ay yan o, tinuturuan siya ni Marcoleta kung ano ang gagawin,” the legal luminary said.
(He is now saying that it was not true. He says he was merely pressured by Defensor and Marcoleta. How can we rely on that now? Then there is the video being shown, where it is very clear that Marcoleta was instructing him on what to do.)

Related Tags

Ade Fajardo IBP MARTIN ROMUALDEZ Ombudsman flood control Maleta Orly Guteza Judd Roy PLM
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