Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday, September 29 directly accused Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez as the one orchestrating in turning public attention away from some members of the House of Representatives who are behind the flood control anomalies.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero (PPAB, Facebook)

In a manifestation during the Senate plenary session, Escudero pointed out how witnesses would constantly name-drop senators in the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the flood control mess, despite the lack of evidence implicating them in the alleged scam.

“Iisang tao lamang, Ginoong Pangulo ang nasa likod ng script at sarswelang ito.  Siya ang dahilan ng kaguluhan, pagkaka-away-away, at pagkakawatak-watak na ngayo’y yumayanig sa ating bayan, maprotektahan lamang ang sarili niya (Only one person, Mr. President, is behind this script and charade. He is the cause of the chaos, strife, and disunity that is currently shaking our country, just to protect himself),” Escudero said in his privilege speech.

“Ang pangalan niya ay matagal nang bulung-bulungan sa bawat sulok ng bansa, pero ngayon unti-unti nang sinisigaw na ng taumbayan (His name has long been a rumor in every corner of the country, but now the people are gradually shouting it out),” he said.

Pero Ginoong Pangulo, minamahal kong kasamahan bakit tila sa Kamara, dito mismo sa Senado at ang ilang media ay hindi pa din nila kayang sambitin ang pangalan niya (But Mr. President, my beloved colleague, why does it seem that in the House, right here in the Senate, and some media outlets, they still can't even mention his name)?” he pointed out.

“Pwes, sasabihin ko:  Martin Romualdez! ( Well, I'll say: Martin Romualdez),” Escudero stressed.

The former Senate president noted it was only a former soldier who was detailed as a security aide of Ako Bicol Party-list Zaldy Co, Orly Guteza, who bravely testified about the Romualdez’s involvement in the anomalous government flood control projects.

“Siya ang kauna-unahang nagtestigo na personal na naghatid ng pera sa bahay mismo ni Martin Romualdez (He was the first to testify that he personally delivered money to Martin Romualdez's house)!” Escudero said.

“Ang salaysay niya, Ginoong Pangulo ay kumpirmasyon ng matagal nang isinisiwalat nila Congressman Tiangco at Mayor Magalong kung sino ang ulo sa paglilimas sa kaban ng bayan na ating naririnig na rin (His statement, Mr. President, is confirmation of what Congressman Toby Tiangco and Mayor Benjamin Magalong have been revealing for a long time about who is the mastermind behind the emptying of the public treasury, which we have been hearing about for a long time)!” he reiterated.

Escudero said Romualdez’ tactics are meant to nail the senator in media and in public and to move the attention away from the House of Representatives.

“Bakit nga ba? Dahil tila mas malaking isda ika nga, mas mataas, at mas kilala ang mga Senador kumpara sa Congressman, umaasa sila na maiibsan ang galit ng tao sa kanilang mga anomalya ukol sa flood control, at tuluyan na silang makatatakas mula sa anumang pananagutan (Why? Is it because the senators are the bigger fish, their positions are higher, and they are more well known that the congressmen)?” he asked.

Escudero said it was also the former House Speaker who blamed him for Co’s removal as House Appropriations Committee chair; it was also Romualdez who blamed him for projects that were later tagged by Malacanang as “for later release.”

The former Senate chief also lamented how Romualdez blamed him for supposedly dismissing the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, “whom he sees as a possible opponent in the next election.”

Romualdez also blamed him for ruining their dark plans in the 2025 budget, which they accomplished without any obstacles in recent years, Escudero said.

“Ginoong Pangulo, naging tapat ako at ginawa ko lamang ang aking tungkulin. Kung ano ang tama at nararapat para sa bansa at sambayanan. Subalit, sa kabila po nito, nagsimula na ang lahat ng bira, paninira, at kaso laban sa akin at sa Senado (Mr. President, I was honest and I only did my duty. What is right and proper for the country and the people. However, despite this, all the slander, defamation, and lawsuits against me and the Senate have begun),” the former Senate leader said.

“At ang nasa likod ng lahat ng ito ay walang iba kundi si Martin Romualdez (And the one behind all this is none other than Martin Romualdez),” Escudero reiterated.