Ombudsman: Free to Probe Those Closest to President

The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday said it is free to prosecute anyone liable for the flood control mess, including those close to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. "The Office of the Ombudsman acknowledges the President’s report to the nation on the flood control investigations. We are likewise grateful that this Office has been left free to carry out its constitutional mandate and to follow the evidence wherever it leads, including to those closest to the President himself," the Ombudsman said. The Ombudsman issued the statement a day after the President, in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), said multiple charges are expected to be filed against his cousin, Leyte First District Representative and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, in connection with the flood control mess. "This is how accountability is meant to function: no favor asked, none given. The Office of the Ombudsman will press forward steadily, fairly and without fear or favor, for as long as the evidence and the law will allow," it added. Romualdez has been firm that he can prove his innocence over the allegations leveled against him. “Masakit man ito sa aming pamilya, iginagalang ko ang naging pahayag ng Pangulo. Hindi ako kailanman humingi ng pabor o espesyal na pagtrato. Sang-ayon ako na gawin natin ang tama,” he said in a statement. (This is hurtful for our family, and I respect the President’s statements. I never asked for a favor or special treatment. I agree that we should do what is right.) “Ang tama ay ang sumunod sa proseso at hayaan ang ebidensya ang magsalita. Naninindigan akong wala akong ginawang anumang labag sa batas. At handa akong patunayan ito,” he added. (The right thing to do is to follow due process and let the evidence speak. I maintain that I never committed any criminal act, and I am ready to prove this.) A special panel of investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed a supplemental complaint affidavit against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co, and others for the conduct of a preliminary investigation. The investigators alleged that Romualdez and Co conspired to amass ill-gotten wealth amounting to P56 billion from 2022 to 2025 through “transactions involving the diversion and misuse of public funds and the receipt of undue pecuniary benefits in connection with government dealings.” The complaint alleged plunder, graft, and direct bribery. The Ombudsman, however, has yet to file any criminal case against Romualdez. —AOL, GMA News