Romualdez legal team says suspension order does not signal guilt

MANILA — Legal counsel for former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez contested the implications of a preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan Third Division, emphasizing that the measure should not be construed as an admission of culpability.

The Sandiganbayan's decision to impose a 90-day suspension against Romualdez prompted his legal team to clarify that such an order represents a procedural safeguard rather than a substantive determination of guilt. The lawyer stressed that suspension and conviction are distinct legal outcomes, with the former serving as a precautionary measure pending trial proceedings.

With Romualdez's case still in active litigation, his defense maintained that the allegations against him remain subject to judicial scrutiny. The legal team's statement underscores the distinction between preventive measures adopted during trial and final adjudication on the merits of the case.

The suspension order applies to Romualdez's duties as a legislator while the proceedings continue before the anti-graft court. His defense reiterated that the court itself has acknowledged that all allegations must still be proven through the trial process.