Ombudsman tells Romualdez: ‘Recantation is not an eraser’

MANILA, Philippines — “Recantation is not an eraser,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano emphasized Thursday as he repeated the same sentence thrice in response to pronouncements of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

In an excerpt from his supplemental counter-affidavit on Wednesday, Romualdez said the Office of the Ombudsman should consider the recantations made by their witnesses in the complaint of plunder, graft, indirect and direct bribery, and money laundering complaints they filed against him.

READ: Romualdez tells Ombudsman: Pre-trial recantations should be considered

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Ombudsman investigators accused Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of alleged “concerted and coordinated acts” in “unlawfully amassing, accumulating, and acquiring ill-gotten wealth” amounting to approximately P56 billion from 2022 to 2025, some of which were purportedly delivered by the bodyguards through suitcases. 

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Investigators cited the testimony of some of Co’s 18 “bodyguards,” four of whom have since recanted their allegations. 

Also, Romualdez submitted last week a supplemental counter-affidavit to answer his Ombudsman complaint, citing the testimony of the 25 of Co’s aides, some of whom, the lawmaker said, were among the individuals mentioned by the 18 bodyguards who were with them when they made the alleged deliveries of suitcases containing cash to the former House speaker. 

Clavano, however, said the recantations constitute additional evidence that raises more questions. 

Here is Clavano’s entire statement, translated from Filipino: “Recantation is not an eraser. In fact, that is additional evidence. Because there are two statements, both will be put next to each other and examined to determine which of the two is true.

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“Recantation is not an eraser. Actually, it means that one of the statements is a lie. Which of these statements did the people involved actually stand by? Why did they suddenly go into hiding after recanting? Why is there so much info that recantations are paid? These are the questions that need to be asked.

“Recantation is not an eraser. But some people want to confuse the public about what recantation means.” /das