By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The camp of former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez believes former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan may be under considerable pressure as reports emerge that he could testify in the government’s infrastructure corruption investigation.
In a statement issued Thursday, Romualdez spokesperson Ade Fajardo suggested that Bonoan’s current circumstances—including the possibility of being transferred from hospital confinement to a regular detention facility once declared medically fit—could be influencing his decision to cooperate with investigators.
Fajardo said Bonoan’s advanced age and health condition may have placed him under emotional strain, making him vulnerable to pressure amid the ongoing legal proceedings.
He also expressed surprise over reports identifying Bonoan as a potential state witness against Romualdez, noting that the former Public Works chief had never previously implicated the former Speaker during congressional inquiries or earlier investigations into the alleged misuse of infrastructure funds.
According to Fajardo, the sudden emergence of Bonoan as a key witness raises questions, particularly since no evidence directly linking Romualdez to the alleged anomalies has been publicly presented.
The spokesperson maintained that the former House leader had no involvement in the alleged flood control and infrastructure fund irregularities, insisting that accusations against him remain unsupported by documentary or testimonial evidence.
The statement follows the Office of the Ombudsman’s disclosure that Bonoan’s bid to become a state witness is intended to strengthen its case against Romualdez.
Earlier, Romualdez’s lawyer, Elaine Atienza, likewise argued that allegations against her client lack factual basis, saying the former Speaker did not have absolute control over the national budgeting process and therefore could not be solely held responsible for the questioned appropriations.
Fajardo also pointed out that no criminal information has yet been filed before any court against Romualdez, asserting that the absence of formal charges reflects the insufficiency of evidence.
Government investigators have yet to decide on Bonoan’s application to become a state witness as the Ombudsman continues its investigation into the alleged multibillion-peso infrastructure corruption scandal.
ia/xf
