Malacañang stated on Tuesday that it is up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to decide if former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez qualifies as a state witness in the investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro explained that any decision would hinge on the value of his testimony. “Depende po sa kaniyang magiging salaysay at kung ano po ang kaniyang mailalahad at depende na po rin iyan sa Department of Justice kung siya ba ay maituturing na isang state witness at ito naman po ay irirekomenda sa korte,” Castro told reporters during a Palace briefing. “So, hindi pa po natin masasabi kung siya’y puwedeng maging state witness o hindi.”
Romualdez appeared before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Monday, as established by Executive Order 94 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and pledged full cooperation in exposing irregularities in flood mitigation projects. He has faced accusations in prior legislative inquiries regarding the scandal but has denied any involvement.Copy messageExport