Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday, Sept. 29, said that he's not afraid of Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, as he addressed criticisms arising from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the flood control project scandal.

In a privilege speech, Marcoleta addressed criticisms that he lacked courtesy after producing a witness, Master Sgt. Orly Guteza at a recent hearing. Guteza had directly linked Romualdez and former House Appropriations Chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to alleged anomalies.

“Nakita naman po ninyo kung paano niya sinasagot ang bawat tanong. Walang pag-aalinlangan, siya lang ang natatangi na testigo na kumunekta sa pangalan ni Zaldy Co at Martin Romualdez. Wala nang iba (You have seen how he answered every question. Without hesitation, he is the only witness who connected the names of Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez. No one else),” Marcoleta said.

The senator asked why Guteza’s testimony was being put into question, particularly the notarization of his statement. He insisted that the more important fact was that the witness appeared, testified, and swore before the Senate.

Marcoleta also pushed back against claims that he had “coached” Guteza while reading his statement. He explained that he only reminded the witness to go back to certain lines that had been skipped to ensure the record was complete.

Marcoleta then stated that perhaps there are a lot in the Senate who're afraid of Romualdez, but not him.

“Iisa ang layunin natin dito, yung matukoy natin kung sino ang mayroong utak dito na ngayon unti-unti na naihayag. Sino ba ang natatakot kay Martin Romualdez? Marami po siguro dito sa kapulungang ito. Pero hindi ako natatakot kay Martin Romualdez (We have one goal here — to identify who is the mastermind behind all this, which is now slowly being revealed. Who is afraid of Martin Romualdez? Perhaps many in this chamber. But I am not afraid of Martin Romualdez),” he said.

The senator further questioned why inter-parliamentary courtesy was being invoked to prevent inviting Romualdez or Co to the hearings, arguing that the public deserves answers in a controversy that concerns the country’s future.

“Ang ating bansa ang pinakaimportante sa ating lahat, bakit kinkailangang ilihis natin? Bakit tayo gagawa ng paraan para pagtakpan po natin ang hindi dapat pagtakpan? (Our country is what’s most important to all of us, so why must we divert the issue? Why should we find ways to cover up what should not be covered up?)” Marcoleta asked.