Martin Romualdez camp: Suspension does not constitute a finding of guilt

Résumé détaillé

The 90-day preventive suspension ordered by the Sandiganbayan on former Speaker Martin Romualdez does not mean there was a finding of guilt, his camp said Wednesday. They added…

The 90-day preventive suspension ordered by the Sandiganbayan on former Speaker Martin Romualdez does not mean there was a finding of guilt, his camp said Wednesday.

They added that the Sandiganbayan itself acknowledged that Romualdez's alleged participation in plunder and receipt of supposed kickbacks have yet to be established during trial.

“The court has not found Martin guilty of plunder. It has not established that he received a single peso in illegal commissions or kickbacks,” Romualdez's counsel Atty. Ade Fajardo said in a statement.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered the 90-day suspension of Romualdez, who is currently detained over a P7.4-billion plunder case, the clerk of court confirmed Tuesday.

The resolution directs Romualdez, the incumbent Leyte 1st District representative, to cease and desist from performing his official functions for 90 days from receipt of the order.

The Sandiganbayan resolution also said that acts attributable to Romualdez, his degree of participation, and specific transactions through which he allegedly received kickbacks or commissions “are matters to be threshed out and established during trial.”

“An allegation is not evidence. A valid Information is not a conviction. The prosecution must still prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” Fajardo said.

He also said Romualdez is already detained and unable to exercise the ordinary powers of his congressional office.

Romualdez respects the court's ruling and will evaluate available legal remedies, Fajardo added.

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