Malacañang on Wednesday refuted allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has turned his back on his cousin, Leyte 1st District Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, following the latter’s criminal charges regarding alleged flood control project anomalies.
Speaking at a news briefing, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the charges stem directly from evidence independently gathered by the Office of the Ombudsman, dismissing allegations that Romualdez is being sacrificed to shield others.
“Hindi ko gusto yung word na nilaglag, so kung may mga kritiko na nagsasabi nilaglag, hindi namin nais gamitin ang word na nilaglag dahil ito naman po, according to the Office of the Ombudsman, mayroon silang nakitang ebidensya. So walang dapat nilalaglag dito,” Castro stated.
Castro emphasized that the Chief Executive is remaining neutral throughout the proceedings, asserting that legal matters should depend strictly on factual backing.
“Kung ano lang ang ebidensya na nandyan, doon lang tayo bumase, dahil ang Pangulo sa mga bagay na ganyan ay neutral, proseso, batas at walang dapat na gawa-gawang ebidensya,” she said.
The press officer added that the Chief Executive’s personal relationship with the former Speaker will not influence the direction or outcome of the case.
“Ang pakiramdam po ng Pangulo, personal, ay hindi naman po siguro ito dapat nang alamin natin. Ang kailangan lang po dito ay dapat mapanagot, ang dapat mapanagot,” she noted.
Furthermore, Castro reiterated that deciding Romualdez’s guilt or innocence is ultimately up to the judicial system, based on the proofs presented in court.
“Hindi na po siguro makaapekto kung ano man ang damdamin ng Pangulo…Ang importante po dito ay gumagana po ang ating hustisya. Kung kailangan na siya ay masingil kung mayroon mang dahilan at ito ay makikita sa Korte hayaan na po natin ang Korte na siyang humusga sa kasong ito,” she added.
The statement from Malacañang follows earlier remarks from President Marcos, who previously referred to the formal complaints against Romualdez as “painful but necessary.”
Romualdez was taken into custody on Monday at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City over a P7.4-billion plunder case stemming from alleged irregularities in flood mitigation infrastructure.