Manila, Dec. 18 -- Former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez's camp on Thursday rejected attempts to pin plunder and other serious crimes on him, stressing that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) itself made clear its referral to the Ombudsman was "issued without finding or conclusion of guilt or liability."

In a statement, lawyer Ade Fajardo, counsel and spokesperson of Romualdez, said recent statements attributed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should not be misconstrued as proof of wrongdoing.

"We take note of the DPWH Secretary's statement. However, it is important to clarify that a DPWH 'recommendation' is not a finding, much less a determination of guilt," Fajardo said.

He categorically d...