Dismissal of graft cases may prod ‘Kokoy’ to seek Leyte post — brod

TACLOBAN CITY — Former Leyte governor Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez might decide to run for an elective position in the province in the 2007 polls now that the Supreme Court has dismissed the 23 graft cases filed against him, his younger brother, Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez Sr., said.

The Supreme Court ruled that the 15-year period for the Office of the Ombudsman to prosecute the graft cases, pending with the Sandiganbayan and the Manila regional trial court, has lapsed.

The cases involved Kokoy’s alleged failure to file his annual statement of assets and liabilities (SALs) from 1963 to 1985.

Kokoy, younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, served as a technical assistant at the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1963 to 1966 and ambassador plenipotentiary to the United States from 1967 to 1985.

Bejo described the Supreme Court decision as "another victory to prove that the good name of our family is still there."

"I would like to emphasize that we are not thieves (contrary to what they are saying that) we have ill-gotten wealth… I am happy, too, that God is always there for us to clear (us) from this political harassment," he told The STAR.

Bejo is serving his third and last term as Tacloban mayor. He earlier announced his intention to run for congressman.

Bejo admitted that the Supreme Court ruling augurs well for whatever political plans Kokoy and his sons Philip and Martin might have.

Philip is the president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, while Martin is a board director of Equitable PCI Bank.

Martin is reportedly eyeing Leyte’s first congressional district. Bejo’s son, former Rep. Alfred Romualdez, is rumored to be keen on the Tacloban mayorship.

But Bejo earlier said all these political plans would need the go-signal of Mrs. Marcos.

During her recent visit, Mrs. Marcos said Leyte still needs Bejo, thus triggering speculations that he might challenge Gov. Jericho Petilla.

Meanwhile, Bejo expressed confidence that he, too, would be cleared of the graft cases pending against him in the Sandiganbayan.

"I am not afraid and bothered about these cases… They cannot find any sufficient evidence for me to be jailed… As I have said, all this is harassment and political revenge," he said.

Eight years ago, the courts cleared Bejo of charges that he failed to file his own SAL when he served in government during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos.