Lawyer says ICI hasn't found any guilt, liability on Romualdez

Manila Bulletin

The camp of Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez believes in the impartiality of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) even as it pursues cases against the former House Speaker.  This, after Romualdez's legal counsel, lawyer Ade Fajardo highlighted that the commission made no conclusion of guilt or liability on his client in its referral to the Office of the Ombudsman. (Video courtesy of Atty. Ade Fajardo via Ellson Quismorio | MB)  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/11/24/lawyer-says-ici-hasnt-found-any-guilt-liability-on-romualdez  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com @manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00Good day, everyone. My name is Adet Fajardo. I am a legal practitioner based in Pasig City.

00:07Today, I am relaying to you our reaction as counsel for former Speaker Martin Jiromualdez

00:15on the ICI referral to the Office of the Ombudsman as follows.

00:22We acknowledge the referral submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure

00:27to the Office of the Ombudsman on November 21 and welcome the Commission's completion of its fact-gathering Monday.

00:37We respect the ICI's commitment to transmit all gathered evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman for further evaluation.

00:48The referral incorporates all evidence presented by former Speaker Martin Jiromualdez,

00:55his sworn affidavit, complete transcripts, and the full audio-video recording of his voluntary appearance

01:02before the Commission last October 14.

01:05Importantly, the ICI explicitly states that the referral code is issued without any finding or conclusion of guilt

01:16or liability on the part of former Speaker Martin Jiromualdez, end of quote.

01:23This clear statement reinforces our confidence in the Commission's impartiality

01:29and affirms the constitutional role of the Ombudsman as the sole authority empowered to make determination on accountability.

01:39We trust that the Ombudsman will conduct an independent, thorough, and objective review of the evidence submitted.

01:50From the outset, we have consistently maintained that a fair and complete assessment of the record will reflect the truth.

02:00Thank you very much.

02:09Thank you very much.

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