President Marcos clarified that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is not among the 37 individuals referred to the Ombudsman for corruption charges, but stressed that “no one is immune” from accountability as the investigation expands.
In a press conference at Malacañan on Thursday, Nov. 13, the President said the list submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) includes lawmakers, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, and private contractors implicated in alleged irregular infrastructure projects.
“I don’t think so because the only evidence that has been made against him is in the Senate. So, I don’t know. With the speaker, no. Not as yet,” Marcos said when asked if Romualdez was among those facing charges.
“If something else comes out, then he might have to be answerable for something,” he added.
The President said the administration’s campaign will not stop at names already identified.
“We don’t file cases for optics. We file cases to put people in jail or to make people answer,” he added.
Marcos made clear that his administration’s corruption probe will not spare any official, regardless of rank or connection.
“Walang immune dito, walang exempted dito sa mga imbestigasyon na ito (No one is immune here; no one is exempted from these investigations),” he said.