MANILA, Oct. 17 -- Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is not being considered as a government witness in the flood control anomalies, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Friday.

"The Department of Justice formally denies reports that former Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez is currently being considered as a state witness. There is no factual or legal basis to this misinformation," new DOJ spokesperson Raphael Martinez said in a statement.

To be considered as a state witness, he said an application must be filed first with the DOJ through the Witness Protection, Security and Benefits Program (WPSB).

The application will then be evaluated to ascertain whether or not the applicant qualifies as stat...