Palace: Accountability for Romualdez plunder case to be based on evidence

Malacañang on Monday said anyone who is found to be accountable for wrongdoing should face the consequences, regardless of political affiliation or personal ties to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after the Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Romualdez is a cousin of Marcos. “Sa Pangulo naman po ay kung sino po ang dapat na managot ay dapat na panagutin. Kung sino man po ‘yan– kamag-anak, kaibigan, kaalyado, o kalaban sa pulitika– kung ano po ang isinisigaw ng ebidensya, dapat lamang po itong mailahad,” she said at a press briefing. (As for the President, whoever should be held accountable must be held accountable. Whoever they are– relatives, friends, allies, or political opponents– whatever the evidence reveals, it should be presented.) “So, depende na po yan sa mga makakasuhan kung sila naman po ay may sapat na ebidensya para ipaglaban ang kanilang sarili, nasa kanila na po iyan,” she added. (So, it depends on those who will be charged whether they have enough evidence to defend themselves, that’s up to them.) Castro said Malacañang respects the Ombudsman’s action. Asked whether Marcos was disappointed over Romualdez, Castro said she has yet to ask the President about his personal feelings regarding the matter. —RF, GMA News