Vice President Sara Duterte believes that Malacañang will one day have to confront public demand for truth and accountability as former speaker Martin Romualdez, President Marcos’ cousin and close ally, continues to find himself in hot water over the multi-billion-peso flood control corruption issue.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the official pointed out to a “disturbing pattern” regarding Romualdez's, her former campaign manager, alleged link to luggages filled with cash being delivered to him regularly.

She claimed these patterns give credibility to the testimony of Orly Guteza—a former security consultant of now resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co—who testified during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last week that he regularly delivered luggage of cash, which they called “basura,” to the residences of Co and Romualdez.

“I have repeatedly questioned the judgment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in choosing Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the House of Representatives — especially after the Delaware Court ruling was issued,” she said, referring to the Okada Manila Casino scandal that alleged the former House leader received bribes from Okada management to influence the local courts’ decision.

“Sadly, President Marcos continues to display this flawed judgment — by merely changing the leadership in both Houses of Congress, while keeping a stranglehold on the flood-control probe through the creation of what is supposed to be an "Independent" Commission on Infrastructure that is clearly under his control,” she added.

“One day, the floodwaters of truth and accountability will flow all the way to Malacañan. And on that day, the Filipino people will finally decide that we deserve better.”

During a privilege speech on Monday, Sept. 29, Senator Francis Escudero—whose name has been tagged as one of the beneficiaries of the flood control corruption—said it was Romualdez who was behind Duterte’s impeachment in February this year, forcing lawmakers to sign the complaint in exchange of funds.

Escudero was the Senate President when Duterte’s impeachment case was archived by the Senate, following a Supreme Court decision ruling it unconstitutional.

“Nang ako'y tanungin kaninang umaga kung naniniwala ba ako sa mga pahayag ukol sa sangkatutak na mga maleta ng perang hinahatid umano sa bahay ni Martin Romualdez, ang naging sagot ko ay ‘Oo’ (When I was asked this morning if I believe the statement that numerous luggage of cash were brought to the house of Martin Romualdez, my answer was ‘yes’),” the Vice President said.

“Oo, sapagkat ito ay tugma sa mga napabalita na noong pagtanggap niya ng suhol (Yes, because this is consistent with reports that he had been receiving bribes),” she added.

The investigations into the government’s anomalous infrastructure programs have identified several proponents and beneficiaries, including allies of the President, the pro-Duterte bloc in the Senate, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, and private contractors.