By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not interfere in the Office of the Ombudsman’s investigation involving his cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, Malacañang said Monday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President remains firm that investigations should be guided solely by evidence, regardless of who may be implicated.
“Hindi po makikialam ang Pangulo sa anumang pag-iimbestiga. Sabi nga po natin at ang sabi rin po ng Pangulo, kahit sino po ang maapektuhan nito, kung saan po pupunta ang ebidensiya, sundan na lang po natin (The President will not interfere in any investigation. As we have said, and as the President himself has said, no matter who may be affected, we should follow where the evidence leads),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
“So, kung ano po ang mangyayari sa anumang pag-iimbestiga dito, hindi po makikialam ang Pangulo at tatanggapin po ito (Whatever the outcome of the investigation, the President will not interfere and will accept it).”
The statement came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that the anti-graft body is close to completing its investigation into an alleged multibillion-peso flood control anomaly involving Romualdez.
Romualdez’s camp, through lawyer Ade Fajardo, has denied any involvement in alleged irregularities involving flood control projects, saying there is no evidence linking the former speaker to any anomaly and that he is prepared to face the legal process if charges are filed.
Castro also dismissed allegations of selective justice after ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio claimed that administration allies linked to questionable flood control projects have yet to face charges.
She said the justice system requires evidence and due process, not mere accusations.
“Hindi po ganiyan ang hustisyang umiiral dito sa ating bansa – due process… Dito po, ang umiiral ay ebidensiya (That is not how justice works in our country — due process prevails… What governs here is evidence),” she said.
Castro noted that the investigation into alleged flood control anomalies only began after Marcos publicly ordered a probe last year during his fourth State of the Nation Address, adding that the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice have been moving swiftly despite the complexity of the cases and the volume of documentary evidence involved.
She also challenged critics to file complaints if they have evidence. (PNA)
