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 simply grounded in 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 the Ombudsman’s double standard, pointing out that the investigative body continues to rely on testimonies from individuals whom he said had already been discredited by both the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The statement came after the DOJ announced on Wednesday that criminal complaints for perjury and cyberlibel had officially been filed against 18 former bodyguards of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co—collectively known as the “Maleta Boys”—along with their legal counsel, Atty. Levito Baligod.
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed that the Informations had been filed before the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) in Caloocan, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and San Juan. The charges stem from multiple complaints involving 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, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and four counts of perjury.
Highlighting what he described as the contradiction of using these individuals as witnesses in the 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 said.
Despite his objections to the use of what he described as discredited and legally compromised witnesses, Romualdez affirmed his commitment to addressing the allegations through the proper legal process.
“Hindi ako uurong sa laban na ito. Hindi ako matitinag. Gawin natin ang tama,” Romualdez said.
