Team DailyPedia
Senator Imee Marcos has publicly questioned why her cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, has not been included in the flood control corruption charges currently being prepared by prosecutors.
In a recent television interview, Marcos said the absence of Romualdez’s name from the list of lawmakers and personalities linked to the alleged irregularities was “glaring,” noting that he was not even being mentioned in discussions surrounding the case.
“Well, it seems apparent. Ang sabi mo, dini-deny nila o hindi linilista si Martin, iyong aking pinsang buo, nakakaloka talaga, si Bonjing. Si Bonjing, hindi naman binabanggit,” Marcos said.
She added that authorities have repeatedly issued what she described as “very fervent denials” of any direct link between Romualdez and the controversial flood control projects.
“In addition to that, aside from the fact that they’re somehow forgetting his name, there have also been very fervent denials that there is any direct link daw. Wala daw connection. Napapakamot na naman ako ng ulo,” she said.
Marcos shared that she initially expected Romualdez to be charged after former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, but this has yet to happen.
“I was thinking that perhaps after Zaldy Co, he would be charged, but evidently that’s not the case, when in fact that should have been. And thereafter, ija-jogging na lang iyong kaso. Alam na natin yan, ipo-postpone nang ipo-postpone, mamaya dismissed on technical grounds, may kakulangan, alam na natin,” she said.
What troubled the senator most, she emphasized, was what she perceived as the active defense and alleged cover-up of Romualdez.
“Pero in this case, in your face, talagang dini-deny, pinagtatanggol, pinagtatakpan. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan,” Marcos added.
Earlier, Malacañang ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to submit to the Ombudsman any information gathered so far in connection with Romualdez and Co.
In a separate video message, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Office of the Ombudsman would continue its investigation into Romualdez and Co.
