MANILA - Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla believes the camp of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was behind the reported recantation of four individuals who identified themselves as former bodyguards of former lawmaker Zaldy Co.
“Syempre! Sino pa? Sino pa? Sino pa ba ibang makikinabang diyan pag ni-recant ‘yan? Oh ‘di ba?” Remulla told reporters in a briefing Friday, August 7.
“Makikita mo talaga how desperate that camp is to take away the witnesses against them because we have built a solid case already,” he added.
Asked if the recantation would either weaken or strengthen their case against the former speaker, Remulla responded ‘neither’.
“It doesn’t weaken or strengthen but of course it just points out to the fact that there are people working on his behalf to obstruct the ends of justice,” he noted.
The individual affidavits of eight of the alleged Co’s ex-bodyguards were used by the anti-graft body in its complaint-affidavits for cases being prepared against Romualdez including plunder over the alleged kickback scheme in flood control scandal.
Remulla also maintained that the former bodyguards signed their affidavits freely and they have recordings and other evidence to prove such.
“Kami, kaya naming takutin ang Marines? Tatakutin namin sila? Ayaw nga nila ng proteksyon eh. Kasi nga kaya nila ‘yung sarili nila eh. Paano namin sila tatakutin? Makikita mo may tumatawa pa nga, may kinikilig pa nga habang pumipirma eh. Tuwang-tuwa eh!” he recalled.
“Paninindigan namin at maglalabas kami ng testigo sa lahat ng pangyayari sa pagpirma ng mga affidavit,” Remulla added.
Those who recanted their testimonies, according to Remulla, will soon be co-accused of Romualdez.
“That’s natural. Kasi nga kaya nga hindi sila chinarge kasi nga tumetestigo sila. Pag hindi sila tumestigo, edi cha-charge namin sila. Co-accused na sila. Accessories after the fact, covering up, pinagtatakpan nila. Kung ano ‘yung nagpalit sa kanilang isipan, kayo na ang maghusga. Alangang namang ako magsabi kung anong nangyari diyan,” he said.
'ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE'
Romualdez, however, denied the Ombudsman’s allegation that he is behind the reported recantation.
Romualdez said Remulla’s statement shows his “prejudice”. The former House Speaker asserted he “will not be intimidated”.
“Ombudsman’s accusation that I am behind the recantations of the former Marines is absolutely not true,” Romualdez said.
“This shows how extremely prejudiced he is against me. The recantations prove what I had been saying all along that the accusations against me are false and trumped up. Hindi ganito ang patas na paghahanap ng katotohanan,” he added.
“I will not be intimidated. I will face every accusation against me, defend myself with the facts, the evidence, and the truth,” Romualdez noted.