The legal counsel for former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez clarified that the Sandiganbayan’s recent 90-day preventive suspension order does not establish guilt in his ongoing plunder case.
Atty. Ade Fajardo stated that the anti-graft court acknowledged that the allegations concerning Romualdez’s involvement in plunder and supposed kickbacks still need to be proven during a full trial.
According to Fajardo, the November 10 resolution only verified that the criminal information met legal requirements and that preventive suspension is a mandatory procedure under the law.
“Hindi hatol ng pagkakasala ang suspension. Mismong korte ang nagsabing kailangan pang patunayan ang mga paratang. Hindi sapat ang akusasyon—kailangan ng ebidensya,” Fajardo said in a statement.
“The court has not found Martin guilty of plunder. It has not established that he received a single peso in illegal commissions or kickbacks,” he added.
“An allegation is not evidence. A valid Information is not a conviction. The prosecution must still prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” Fajardo noted.
Fajardo concluded that Romualdez respects the court’s ruling, maintains his innocence, and is currently reviewing potential legal remedies.