FORMER Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will file a supplemental counter-affidavit with the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday, attaching sworn statements from 25 former drivers and security aides of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, his lawyer and spokesperson said Thursday.
Lawyer Ade Fajardo said the submission would also include the reported recantation of Orly Guteza, a former soldier and security aide of Co.
“They have come forward and directly contradicted the earlier accounts of the 18 Maleta Boys presented by Atty. Baligod,” Fajardo said.
According to Fajardo, the 25 former personnel denied delivering money to Romualdez or any other politician or government official. They also claimed they had been encouraged to join a group of witnesses in exchange for money and that affidavits had been prepared for them.
“Ayon sa kanila, walang naganap na anumang delivery ng pera sa sinumang pulitiko o opisyal ng gobyerno, kabilang na si Rep. Romualdez. Hinikayat lamang silang sumali sa isang grupo ng mga testigo kapalit ng pera, at may mga affidavit nang inihanda para sa kanila,” he said.
Guteza previously alleged before the Senate that he had delivered suitcases containing cash to Romualdez. He has since withdrawn that allegation.
“Si Orly Guteza naman, naglabas rin ng pahayag at idinetalye kung paanong ang mga akusasyon ay ipinilit sa kanya para tanggapin at pirmahan, bilang missing link na siya raw mag-uugnay daw kay Rep. Romualdez sa kaso,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo said Guteza’s latest statement described how he was allegedly pressured to accept and sign accusations intended to make him the “missing link” connecting Romualdez to the case.
“Magkakasalungat ang mga kuwento. May mga bumabawi. May mga bagong testigong nagsasabing wala silang personal na kaalaman sa mga alegasyon,” Fajardo said.
He alleged that people had induced and pressured the witnesses to implicate Romualdez.
“Sa dami ng magkakasalungat na kwento, napaka klaro na walang ebidensya laban kay Rep. Romualdez,” Fajardo said.
Romualdez has consistently denied the allegations. Fajardo said the defense remained confident that a fair investigation would find the accusations against the former Speaker baseless.
“We remain confident that in a fair investigating body, mapapatunayan naming walang basehan ang mga akusasyon laban kay Rep. Romualdez,” he said.
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