Martin Romualdez to testify in his plunder case in Sandiganbayan
MANILA, Philippines — Former Speaker Martin Romualdez will testify in his plunder case before the Sandiganbayan, his lawyer Ade Fajardo said on Friday.
Fajardo, who called Romualdez as their most important witness, said the former Speaker wants to defend himself in court.
READ: Romualdez camp to submit by Monday comment vs preventive suspension
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“Of course, the most important [witness] is the accused himself, Congressman Romualdez,” Fajardo said in an ambush interview after the pretrial proceedings in the court.
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“He wants to defend himself in court and he will most likely testify and is about to be listed as actual witness when it is the turn of defense to present its evidence,” he said.
On Sept. 7, an arrest warrant was issued by the court against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two others for plunder involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.44 billion.
The amount allegedly came from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, according to prosecutors.
The Leyte representative had been hospitalized for almost a week before being jailed at the New Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory on Sept. 14.
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