Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan was accepted as state witness to the corruption case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on the flood control scandal, the Office of the Ombudsman said Tuesday.

In a press conference, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said that "the case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is getting stronger by the day."

"He (Bonoan) really has something substantial to contribute because he was in the room. He himself was there, he himself was talking to the congressmen, to the cabinet secretaries, and that is the unique position he was in," he said.

"If he is willing to cooperate, and we are also willing to hear what he has to say, then it could strengthen our case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez," he noting that Bonoan previously had no intention to cooperate in the investigation.

Bonoan was recently charged with plunder over the flood control case and was served an arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan.

"At that time that we file the case there was no intention for him to cooperate, now with the case having been filed I guess we push, pressure point. Now they are willing to cooperate, and if the cooperation means it could lead us to the bigger fish because in this scheme we know that the lawmaker has the authority," he said.

"The former House Speaker may have had a big role to play when we talked about percentages so his statements, conversations with the House leadership with certain Congressman is very vital in our investigation," he added.

Clavano also added that in the plunder case against Bonoan, "there was no allegation of any money taken by him."

"He was part of the conspiracy, How? Because he approved, apparently the list to be given out where the projects were selected, but no allegation of money was ever alleged," he said.

Clavano said the complaints against Romualdez are still at the "very early stage" of preliminary investigation.

"We are at the preliminary investigation level, however there has been a move to supplement the complaint with further facts so he (Romualdez) has not yet been asked to answer because of this pending supplement that will be provided for," he explained. Robina Asido/PHS