Romualdez camp free to comment; admin adhering to due process – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday said the camp of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is free to voice out opinions but asserted that the administration follows due process and evidence.

These remarks came after the camp of presidential cousin alleged that the Office of the Ombudsman seems to have “prejudged” the official as the mastermind of the flood control scandal.

READ: Romualdez camp: Ombudsman trying to keep case alive with statements

“Kung anuman po iyong naging statement ng kampo po ni dating Speaker Martin Romualdez, iyan po ay karapatan nila. At kung iyan ang kanilang nararamdaman ay hindi po natin mapipigilan,” said Palace press officer Claire Castro at a briefing when asked for a comment on the matter.

(Whatever the statement made by the camp of former Speaker Martin Romualdez, that is their right. And if that is how they feel, we cannot stop them.)

Castro acknowledged that there are always two opposing sides: the complainant and the accused, and that it is just normal for Romualdez to defend himself.

“Kung malakas naman din po ang ebidensiya ng sinumang respondents ay kakayanin naman nila. Kung iniisip nila na sila’y tinututukan lamang at kaya naman nilang ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili, nasa kanila na po iyan,” she said.

(If the evidence of any respondents is strong, they can handle it. If they think they are being targeted and can defend themselves, that is up to them.)

“At tayo naman po ay naniniwala, ang Pangulo ay naniniwala sa due process, naniniwala sa mga bawat ebidensiyang ilalahad at ipapakita, so doon na lang po ang Pangulo. Kung ano ang maibibigay na mga ebidensiya at dapat nating igalang,” Castro added.

(We believe—and the President believes—in due process and in the evidence that will be presented; so, the President’s position rests on that. We must respect whatever evidence is presented.)

In a statement on Monday, lawyer Ade Fajardo and Romualdez’s spokesperson said the Office of the Ombudsman appears to be trying to keep its case against Romualdez alive by issuing statements after witnesses recanted their testimonies.

Fajardo questioned its tag for Romualdez as a mastermind while the preliminary investigation is still ongoing.

He said such a label could create the impression that a conclusion has been reached even before its evaluation of evidence is completed and ahead of receiving Romualdez’s defense. /gsg