ICI: ‘No finding of guilt’ vs Romualdez in Ombudsman referral
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s camp said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) referral to the Ombudsman—which was issued with no finding of guilt against him—affirms their confidence in the probe body’s impartiality in handling the case.
Ade Fajardo, Romualdez’s lawyer, delivered his statement in a video sent to the media on Monday morning. His statement came after they received a copy of the ICI’s Nov. 21 referral to the antigraft body.
The ICI referral asked the antigraft body to further investigate Romualdez in relation to the flood control mess.
It includes Romualdez’s sworn affidavit, stenographic transcript, and related materials from his voluntary appearance before the ICI on Oct. 14.
“The Commission underscores that referring the matter at this stage is intended to permit the Honorable Office of the Ombudsman to promptly and immediately undertake its own fact-finding inquiry, consistent with established principles of coordination and to avoid duplicative or fragmented investigations,” the document reads.
“As the constitutionally designated disciplinary authority over public officials, the Office of the Ombudsman is better equipped to determine whether the circumstances, thus far disclosed, warrant administrative or criminal accountability under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards, and other applicable laws,” it added.
“The ICI will continue to discharge its mandate under Executive Order No. 94. Any additional documents, evidence, or statements obtained in the course of its ongoing inquiries that bear upon this referral will be promptly transmitted to the Honorable Office of the Ombudsman,” it noted.
“We acknowledge the Referral submitted by the ICI to the Office of the Ombudsman on Nov. 21 and welcome the Commission’s completion of its fact-gathering mandate. We respect the ICI’s commitment to transmit all gathered evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman for further evaluation,” Fajardo said.
Impartiality
“Importantly, the ICI explicitly states that the referral is issued without any finding or conclusion of guilt or liability on the part of former Speaker Romualdez,” he added.
Fajardo said: “This clear statement strengthens our confidence in the Commission’s impartiality and underscores the constitutional role of the Ombudsman as the sole authority empowered to determine accountability.”
“We trust that the Ombudsman will conduct an independent, thorough, and objective review of the evidence submitted. From the outset, we have consistently maintained that a fair and complete assessment of the record will reflect the truth,” he added.
On Nov. 21, 2025, the DPWH and the ICI issued a joint referral where they wrote in the “recommended action” that, subject to the Ombudsman’s prerogative, “it is respectfully recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman conduct an investigation on Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Elizaldy S. Co, and the members of the Board of Directors of Sunwest Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp., and any and all other parties” in relation to possible criminal offenses including plunder, graft and corrupt practices, and direct bribery.
The document also stated that “the findings herein are only preliminary in nature and without prejudice to any additional findings of liability or the possible implication of other persons that may arise in the course of the evaluation and/or investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.”
Prior to the submission of the referral by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and ICI Chair Andres Reyes Jr., President Marcos also announced their recommendations in a video statement on social media.
“And so now, I want to inform our countrymen that all the information gathered by the ICI and the DPWH will be referred and turned over to the Ombudsman for investigation,” the President said.
“We are confident that the Ombudsman simply follows the evidence, and wherever the evidence leads, that is where our investigation will go,” he added. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
