A public interest and human rights lawyer has called attention to the statement of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that the flood control scam had no mastermind.
Lacson headed the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that investigated various anomalous flood control projects. He had submitted a partial report.
Lawyer Antonio Zoleta Bucoy cited the senator’s finding to dispute Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remullla’s assertion that Leyte 1st District Representative and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez masterminded the flood control scam.
Romualdez has been invited to the resumption of the flood control investigation of the Senate under the leadership of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano before a new majority took over the chamber on Wednesday.
Asked about that scheduled probe in a radio interview, Bucoy said it was a diversionary move.
“Ang reaksyon ko ho diyan, nililihis ho nila yung imbestigasyon. Nagkaroon na, kung inyong maalala, nagkaroon na ng partial report yung Blue Ribbon Committee na dating pinangumunahan ni Sen. Lacson,” he said.
He said Lacson categorically declared that the flood control scam had no mastermind.
“At sinabi doon ni Sen. Lacson, nabanggit ni Sen. Lacson sa ilang interview niya, sa ilang panayam niya sa media na walang mastermind na maituturing itong flood control,” he said.
He added that a Blue Ribbon subcommittee chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta under the Cayetano-led Senate tried to invite Romualdez to its hearing.
“Kung maaalala ninyo iginigiit nila Marcoleta, imbitahin yan, si dating Speaker Romualdez, yan ang mastermind. Pero hindi nila sinasabi kung bakit naging mastermind yan,” he stressed.
“Yan ba dahil lamang sa kanyang dating posisyon bilang Speaker of the House?” Bucoy asked.
In an earlier radio interview, the public interest lawyer criticized Remulla for prejudging Romualdez on the flood control projects controversy without the benefit of a preliminary investigation and without showing any piece of evidence.
“Iisa ho ang nagpapalutang dyan eh, si Ombudsman Remulla na mula’t sapul ay binansagan na niya si Speaker Romualdez na mastermind,” he said.
He said there is no basis for the Ombudsman’s allegation and the Ombudsman’s office has not conducted a preliminary investigation.
“Ang tanong ho, ano ang kanyang batayan, okay? Pangalawa, nagkaroon na ba ng preliminary investigation? Dahil ho wala hong lumalabas na mga balita na nagkaroon na ng preliminary investigation,” he said.
He added that Remulla’s statement should have been based on his evaluation of a complaint and the answer of the accused.
“Babansagan mo ang isang tao na mastermind kung iyo nang nabalangkas at nasuri mo na yung magkabilang panig, yung reklamo pati yung kasagutan,” he stressed.
