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'Fact check muna': Sotto schools Barzaga on Senate investigations

Philippines | National

'Fact check muna': Sotto schools Barzaga on Senate investigations

By Dhel Nazario

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday rejected insinuations that his friendship with House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other lawmakers would compromise any investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga and Senate President Vicente

Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga and Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III. (MB file photo)

“There are many points he is missing. I’ve been a longtime friend of Martin Romualdez, Toby Tiangco, Albee Benitez, Benny Amante, Leila De Lima, Caloy Zarate, Paolo Duterte etc etc and many oldtimers in the HOR," Sotto said in a statement late Wednesday night, Sept. 11.

"I follow what is right no matter who my friends are, close or not. In the Senate, the Blue Ribbon conducts the inquiry, not I. Fact check muna," he added.

His remarks came after Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga questioned Sotto’s closeness to Romualdez, saying it limited Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto's“options for investigation.”

“The Romualdez issue incomparable with Vico Sotto’s investigation, I firmly believe that Mayor Vico is a good, honest man that is doing what is best for his city and country, but Tito Sotto’s closeness with Romualdez is limiting his options for investigation,” Barzaga said in a Facebook post.

"Do not use my godson to promote,” Sotto said.Barzaga, who had just left the National Unity Party (NUP) and the pro-Romualdez majority bloc, earlier urged that Romualdez be investigated for possible anomalies in the use of flood control funds.

He cited the period in 2024 when Romualdez served as caretaker of his district, Dasmariñas City, after the passing of his father, Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr.

Related Tags

Tito Sotto Martin Romualdez Kiko Barzaga

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