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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Escudero warns public of attempts to clear House Speaker Romualdez in flood control scandal

Escudero warns public of attempts to clear House Speaker Romualdez in flood control scandal

Published Sep 17, 2025 01:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero has cautioned the public against "calculated diversions" aimed at absolving House Speaker Martin Romualdez from any involvement in the anomalous flood control projects, especially "ghost" projects now hounding the country's infrastructure sector.


Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday, September 17 cautioned the public against “calculated diversions” aimed at absolving House Speaker Martin Romualdez from any involvement in the anomalous flood control projects, especially “ghost” projects now hounding the country’s infrastructure sector.

Escudero made the statement following Deputy Speaker Ronnie Puno’s recent suggestion in media interviews that Romualdez had no direct hand in the alleged budget insertions and anomalies tied to flood control allocations from 2022 to 2024.

Puno’s narrative, according to Escudero, risks misleading the public and undermining the integrity of ongoing investigations.

“Katawa-tawa naman ang ginagawa nila. Ang bilis naman nila i-abswelto si Speaker Romualdez,  ilaglag si Rep. Zaldy Co, ilihis ang isyu at magtuturo ng iba (What they are doing is ridiculous. They are so quick to acquit Speaker Romualdez, depose Rep. Zaldy Co, divert the issue and point to others),”  Escudero noted.

The former Senate leader said there is a coordinated effort to deflect blame and confuse the public with this recent statements from Romualdez’s camp.

Nevertheless, Escudero reiterated that the real issue lies in the existence of ghost projects, substandard infrastructure, and kickbacks embedded in past budgets.

“Ang isyu ay (The issue here are) ghost projects, substandard projects at mga (and the) kickback na karamihan ay nasa budget ng (that mostly are in the budget during) 2022, 2023 at 2024 at bago ang mga taong ‘yan, ayon mismo sa (and before those years, according to the) Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at paglalahad ng whistleblowers (and the testimony of whistleblowers),” Escudero stressed.

President Marcos Jr. recently disclosed that a staggering P545-billion was allocated for flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025, with P100 billion, or nearly 20 percent, awarded to just 15 contractors.

Escudero urged the public not to be distracted by political narratives that attempt to sanitize the scandal but to be vigilant and be discerning instead.

“Mag-ingat po tayo at huwag po magpadala sa dibersiyon at paglilihis na ito (Let us be careful and not give in to these diversion,” he said.

Related Tags

Chiz Escudero Martin Romualdez House Speaker Martin Romualdez flood control projects
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