Sen. Chiz Escudero Slams Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez amid Flood Control Mess
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senator accused former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of allegedly masterminding the flood control accusations versus senators.
Some senators are accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects. Dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez dragged the names of senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in the issue.
Amid the flood control mess, the Senate had a shakeup. Sen. Chiz Escudero was ousted and replaced with now-Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. The shakeup came after Escudero admitted that he received a P30-million campaign donation from a flood control contractor flagged by President Bongbong Marcos and Estrada and Villanueva were linked to the issue.
The contractor linked to Sen. Chiz Escudero claimed that the P30-million campaign donation came from his own pocket. However, recently, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo accused Escudero of allegedly receiving flood control kickbacks.
Following the flood control corruption accusations by Bernardo, Sen. Chiz Escudero asked about the presence of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co in the testimony of the former DPWH official. The names of the two congressmen were only mentioned in the claim of former marine Orly Guteza who claimed that he is allegedly a former staff of Co and they supposedly delivered suitcases filled with money.
Recently, Sen. Chiz Escudero aired his side on the flood control accusations against him and his fellow senators. Based on a report of ABS-CBN News, the former Senate President accused former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of allegedly masterminding the accusations against him and his fellow lawmakers in the Senate. According to him, he does not believe that the accused DPWH officials have not come into terms with congressmen.
“Iisang tao lamang ang nasa likod ng script at sarswelang ito. Siya ang dahilan ng kaguluhan, pag-aaway, pagkakawatak-watak na ngayo’y yumayanig sa ating bayan maprotektahan lamang ang sarili niya. Ang pangalan niya ay matagal nang bulung-bulungan sa bawat sulok ng bansa pero ngayon unti-unting nang sinisigaw ng taumbayan,” Escudero said.
Sen. Chiz Escudero cried foul over the alleged lack of action towards presidential cousin and Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez despite his name being mentioned in the testimony of the witnesses. Based on the report, he asked why the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has allegedly not included Romualdez in any investigation.
“Ganito ba katindi ang kapangyarihang hawak ni Martin Romualdez, na bagaman hindi siya speaker, tila ‘the name that cannot be mentioned’ pa din siya, at nagagawa pa rin niya ang nais niya kaugnay sa isang mapamiling hustisya o selective justice,” the Senator said.
Escudero stressed that he is not afraid to mention Romualdez and he is not scared of him. According to him, he can defend himself against the flood control accusations but his concern is on the independence of their institution and its reputation. Previously, Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez denied the flood control claims of “Sen. Marcoleta’s witness” Orly Guteza.