'Kokoy' to settle cases with gov't

TACLOBAN CITY -- The "whiz kid" is back.

And former Ambassador to Washington Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez plans to go back to politics after he strikes a deal with the government regarding his graft and criminal cases, according to his younger brother, City Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez.

Meanwhile, the government welcomed Romualdez's return, saying his homecoming will speed up the resolution of at least 27 graft and criminal cases at the Sandiganbayan.

"Romualdez's return is an event expected to hasten the prosecution of all the pending ill-gotten wealth cases," said Chairman Magdangal Elma of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

"With his presence, the civil cases pending before the Sandiganbayan can be activated as there was failure to serve summons to him by reason of his absence in the Philippines," Elma said.

At Malacañang, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said it was up to state prosecutors to determine whether there will be any compromise or out-of-court settlement with Romualdez.

"I think the PCGG is marshaling all those cases and the government would go by whatever recommendations it makes," Puno said, adding he was unaware of any such compromise proposals.

For his part, Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said he will pursue the criminal cases they have filed with the anti-graft court.

He said he has already ordered prosecutors to "start the ball rolling."

"We will proceed with the arraignment on May 25," he added.

Romualdez fled Manila in 1986, or after the people power revolt that also saw the exile of his brother-in-law, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. He returned from the US shortly after midnight Wednesday to face the charges.

Romualdez has 24 cases for not filing his statements of assets and liabilities as Leyte governor, two behest loan suits for acquiring a $1.8-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines to put up the Philippine Journalists Inc. He was also charged with double compensation for receiving salaries as governor and ambassador.

On Thursday, Romualdez posted a P405,000 bail at the Sandiganbayan.

According to Bejo, his brother is considered as the "financial wizard" and the "real politician" of the Romualdez family.

After fleeing Manila, Kokoy put up his own businesses in Massachusetts, New York and Hawaii, Bejo said.

He also said that Kokoy used to handle the family's enterprises, which include shipping, transportation, communication and publishing.

Kokoy was also the first among the Romualdezes to be elected to a government post as governor in the 1960s. Bejo's son Alfred is a congressman, while his nephew Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is governor of Ilocos Norte and his niece Imee Marcos is a congresswoman of that same province.

The former ambassador is second to the eldest of the six Romualdez brood. The eldest is former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Alita Martel (third), Bejo (fourth), Armando (fifth) and Conchita (sixth).

Kokoy is currently staying at the house of his in-laws at the Gomez mansion on Menlo Road in Pasay City.

Bejo said they were planning a grand union, the venue of which will still be decided.

"We are happy because this is the time that the family is complete," he said.

Bejo expressed belief that his brother will be able to hurdle the cases, saying these charges were "politically motivated."

He said he was also surprised that Kokoy was charged of double compensation.

"He was not receiving anything as governor and ambassador," he said. "From the beginning, he has not received a salary, so why should he be charged for it?"

"We have not killed anybody," he added. -- With Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Perseus Echeminada, Marichu Villanueva