Former Speaker and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday highlighted the Office of the Ombudsman’s continued reliance on witnesses whom he said have already been publicly discredited and are now facing criminal charges for cyberlibel and perjury.
As the preliminary investigation into the flood control controversy continues, Romualdez emphasized that his appeal is grounded simply on the demand for fairness and due process under the law.
“Pantay na hustisya lamang ang hinihingi ko,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez criticized what he described as a double standard treatment by the Ombudsman, pointing out that the investigative body continues to utilize testimonies from individuals who have already been discredited by both the Ombudsman himself and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
This development follows the DOJ’s announcement on Wednesday that criminal complaints for perjury and cyberlibel have officially been filed against 18 former bodyguards of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co—collectively known as the “maleta boys”—alongside their legal counsel, Atty. Levito Baligod.
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed that the Information was filed before Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) in Caloocan, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and San Juan. The charges stem from multiple complaints regarding the execution and dissemination of a joint sworn statement, related press conferences, media interviews, social media posts, and online publications. Specifically, the accused face 10 separate Informations covering six counts of cyberlibel under Republic Act No. 10175 (the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and four counts of perjury.
Highlighting the contradiction of using these individuals in ongoing proceedings against him, Romualdez questioned the integrity and fairness of the current investigative process:
“Ito ba ang patas na imbestigasyon? Mga testigong ibinasura na, kinasuhan pa ng cyberlibel at perjury — gagamitin pa rin para lang ituro ako at ako lamang,” he stated.
Despite his strong objections regarding the use of these rejected and legally compromised witnesses, Romualdez affirmed his commitment to confronting the allegations directly through proper legal avenues.
“Hindi ako uurong sa laban na ito. Hindi ako matitinag. Gawin natin ang tama,” Romualdez concluded.
