House Speakers on Speaker Martin Romualdez SALN Following Statement of Acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ SALN – The House of Representatives defended the Speaker from the accusation of acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte.
The order of President Bongbong Marcos for a “lifestyle check” among all government officials to start with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amid the flood control project issues in the country is linked with the disclosure of SALN or the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. The SALN of several officials were submitted to the Ombudsman.
Previously, following the challenge issued by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros to the President, Malacañang also confirmed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos is ready for a “lifestyle check” and to disclose his SALN if necessary. On the other side, the Office of the Vice President has issued a statement with regards to the SALN of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
According to the OVP, there is a “procedure” that must be followed in requesting for the disclosure of the SALN of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. It earned different reactions from the Filipino people. Recently, her brother, acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, has aired an accusation against House Speaker Martin Romualdez over the Leyte Representative’s SALN.
Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte claimed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s SALN was allegedly only P200 million in 2022 but rose to P3 billion now. According to him, the House Appropriations Committee should look into the SALN of Romualdez as well as Ako Bicol Party-List Representative Zaldy Co.
Recently, based on a report on Inquirer, the House of Representatives spoke on the SALN of Speaker Martin Romualdez. According to House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante, the SALN of the House Speaker was filed in accordance with the law and is ready to be scrutinized.
“The speaker’s SALN, unlike theirs, is filed in accordance with law and open for proper scrutiny,” Abante said.
Furthermore, based on the report, the House spox also called the figures cited by acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte to which he referred as the figures in the SALN of Speaker Martin Romualdez as “nothing but absurd fabrications”.
“Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s latest tirade is another baseless attempt to smear Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. The figures he cites are nothing but absurd fabrications — proof once again of the Dutertes’ penchant for fake news,” the House Spox said.
However, with regards to Zaldy Co, the House member has yet to issue a statement. Zaldy Co is reportedly in U.S. right now for medical treatment amid the flood control probe in the Philippines.