Metro Manila, Philippines – Expressing disappointment over the blue ribbon committee’s investigation on the flood control mess, the Senate minority released its own report that put the spotlight on former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the corruption scandal.
“Papunta lahat sa direksyon ni Martin Romualdez [Everything is pointing in the direction of Martin Romualdez],” Senator Rodante Marcoleta said in a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 20, as he and Senator Imee Marcos released the minority report to the media.
Marcoleta referred to a matrix included in the report that identified several personalities described as being “at the eye of the storm,” with arrows all pointing to Romualdez. According to the report, testimonies given during the hearings either mentioned or eventually led to the Leyte representative.
Those listed in the matrix include:
- Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District engineers Brice Hernandez and Henry Alcantara;
- Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo;
- Contractors Curlee Discaya and Sarah Discaya;
- Witness Orly Guteza; and
- Former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
“As the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, he cannot simply absolve himself from any accountability in all that is happening – either he was complicit with the crooks or was grossly negligent in his job. In both cases, he remains liable either way,” the 576-page minority report states.
The report, however, did not recommend specific charges against Romualdez. Instead, it enumerated possible violations that may apply to the politicians involved, including graft and corruption, direct bribery, malversation of public funds or property, plunder, violations of public contracting laws, and breaches of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
It also listed politicians implicated during congressional hearings and other proceedings, including Romualdez, Co, 17 other members of the House of Representatives mentioned by the Discayas, as well as Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, and former Senators Nancy Binay and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Romualdez, along with all other officials named in the report, has denied any involvement in anomalous flood control projects and alleged kickbacks.
Marcoleta also expressed dismay that Romualdez had not appeared in any committee hearing.
“Sasabihin nanaman nila inter parliamentary courtesy. ‘Pag ganito na kalaki problema will you rely on inter parliamentary courtesy?” Marcoleta said.
[Translation: They will again invoke inter-parliamentary courtesy. But when the problem has become this serious, will you still rely on inter-parliamentary courtesy?]
He and Marcos further cited several issues they believe should have been pursued during the eighth hearing on Monday, including conflicting testimonies between former education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar and Bernardo, documents concerning the Romualdez-linked property allegedly used as drop-off point for kickbacks, and the so-called “Cabral files.”
The senators said that while they could not take the lead as members of the minority, they may raise these issues in future hearings.
Signed by 6 out of 9 minority senators
Signed by six of the nine minority senators, the report was submitted to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on December 10 for consideration in the preparation of the final Blue Ribbon Committee report.
The signatories were Senators Rodante Marcoleta, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Christopher “Bong” Go, Imee Marcos, and Robin Padilla.
Meanwhile, the minority report recommended charges against former DPWH Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan for malversation, violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and administrative offenses including grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Bonoan faced Monday’s hearing and once again denied involvement in irregularities.
The report also recommended graft and other criminal charges against Bernardo, the late former DPWH Undersecretary Cathy Cabral, and former engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza.
Cabral’s untimely death extinguished her criminal liability. The report also recommended forfeiture of her unlawfully acquired properties.
Bernardo and Alcantara are now under the Witness Protection Program and were granted immunity from criminal liability in cases where they cooperate with the government.
