MANILA – Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is prepared to face any complaint that may be filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with alleged anomalies in flood control projects, his legal counsel said, while maintaining that there is no evidence linking the lawmaker to the allegations.

In a statement, lawyer Ade Fajardo said Romualdez is ready to undergo legal proceedings should a complaint be filed.

“Nakahanda si former Speaker Romualdez na harapin ang proseso. Pero talagang walang patunay o ebidensiya sa kanya tungkol sa flood-control anomalies. Wala pa pong preliminary investigation, nasa case build-up status po now,” Fajardo said.

“Napakasimple lang actually. Kasi kung wala ka namang participation, talagang maa-anticipate mo na wala namang ebidensya,” he added.

The statement came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday that the anti-graft body’s fact-finding investigation into Romualdez over the flood control controversy was nearing completion and was “about ready for preliminary investigation.”

Fajardo questioned why Romualdez continues to be implicated in the controversy despite what he described as the absence of evidence.

“Hanggang ngayon, kami ay nagtataka kung bakit ganoon ang direksyon samantalang, sa aming pananaw, wala talagang patunay o walang ebidensya tungkol sa kaugnayan ng dating Speaker sa flood-control anomalies,” he said.

Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co are under investigation over alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. Co is already facing corruption and malversation of public funds charges before the Sandiganbayan over an alleged PHP289-million irregular flood control project in Oriental Mindanao.

Fajardo said Co remains outside the Philippines and has yet to execute a sworn statement.

“Hanggang sa ngayon, wala sa jurisdiction ng Pilipinas si Ginoong Zaldy Co. Matagal na siyang tumakas, hindi niya sinumpaan ang kanyang salaysay. Lahat ito ay self-serving. Sinasalba niya ang sarili niya at dinadamay niya lahat ng gusto niyang idamay,” he said.

The lawyer also challenged the credibility of testimonies from former military personnel cited in the controversy.

“Alam naman natin kung gaano hindi kapani-paniwala ang kanilang salaysay. Pabago-bago, paiba-iba… at naglalaman ng mga incredible statements,” he said.

Fajardo also claimed that the House’s Internal Control and Inspection (ICI) found no liability on the part of Romualdez.

“ICI mismo ang naglabas ng kanilang finding na wala silang mahanap na liability. Noong dinala nila ang records sa Office of the Ombudsman, mayroon pong ganoong expressed finding ang ICI,” he said.

He added that Romualdez respected the independence of the Senate and the House of Representatives, explaining that this was why the former Speaker did not attend Senate hearings on the alleged anomalies.

“Atin pong ginagalang ang pagkakapantay-pantay ng dalawang Kapulungan. Kung babasagin natin ‘yan para dito, wala nang katapusan ang patawag ng isang chamber sa isa pang chamber,” Fajardo said.

According to Fajardo, Romualdez remains willing to answer the allegations once formally required by the Ombudsman.

“Si dating Speaker po ay willing. Hindi siya tumakas sa pananagutang ito. Kusang-loob siyang bumaba bilang Speaker para bigyang-daan ang pagsasaliksik at pag-iimbestiga rito,” he said.

He added that Romualdez has remained in the country and continues to perform his duties as Leyte representative.

“Nandito po siya. Siya po ay abala bilang representative ng Leyte at, siyempre, hindi siya tumatakas. Willing siya to face everything kung meron mang sinasabing ebidensya,” Fajardo said.

Asked if Romualdez would comply with a subpoena from the Ombudsman, Fajardo said, “Ever since, hindi siya tumatakas dito. Naghihintay lang kami ng formal subpoena from the Office of the Ombudsman.”

He also noted that no preliminary investigation has yet been initiated against Romualdez.

“Inaamin ng ginagalang nating Ombudsman na hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring preliminary investigation. At hindi pa siya nasu-subpoena ng Office of the Ombudsman,” he said.

“Kami po ay nababahala dito dahil ang dating Speaker ay kailangang bigyan ng pagkakataon na sumagot formally sa mga paratang na ito bago magkaroon ng conclusion,” he added.