Ombudsman orders $5.2-M forfeiture case vs Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a $5.19 million forfeiture case against former Ambassador Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez and his wife Juliette Gomez-Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan.

The money, which covers Swiss bank deposits held in escrow at the Philippine National Bank (PNB), allegedly forms part of the couple’s unexplained wealth.

Records showed that the Presidential Commission on Good Government filed a complaint in 2003 based on how Romualdez, younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, only had a net worth of P2.348 million in 1983.

 based on his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Former Assistant Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol, now deputy ombudsman for Visayas, recommended the filing of the forfeiture case in November 2006.

But Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, in his capacity as acting Ombudsman, only approved the filing of the case before the Sandiganbayan only last June 11.

PCGG investigators traced the bank deposits on December 1998 after Zurich, Switzerland district attorney Peter Cosandey ordered the release to the Philippine government of all “assets, bonds, and other financial instruments” pertaining to Romualdez.

Former PNB vice president and trust officer Jose Ferro confirmed receipt of the funds in June 1999 in the amount of $4,613,020.76 which was money in the name of the spouses Romualdez.