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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez willing to make his SALN public

Romualdez willing to make his SALN public

Published Oct 14, 2025 01:57 pm

At A Glance

  • Former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez has expressed his willingness to release his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) after shrugging off allegations that he was among those who received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
Former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez has expressed his willingness to release his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) after shrugging off allegations that he was among those who received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
"I will do that at the instance of the commissioners," Romualdez said on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in his first media appearance since being dragged into the flood control project controversy.
Romualdez, who attended the hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for the first time, also denied former Marine Orly Guteza's accusation that he received kickbacks alongside former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co.
He said Guteza's testimonies at the Senate were already discredited.
"The witnesses..are discredited already for having presented falsified documents and their testimonies have already been denied," he said, adding that Guteza was not even part of his security aide.
ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka also said that Romualdez' denied Guteza's allegations when asked by ICI commissioners during the hearing.
Romualdez ready to come back
During the hearing, Hosaka said Romualdez "explained the budget process and his role as House Speaker during the preparation of the national budget." The latter also submitted an affidavit, Hosaka added.
For his part, the embattled lawmaker said he shared his personal knowledge "on the budget process, and of course, [on] any information about insertions of flood control".
"Sa ngayon po (So for now), it's about facts and evidence, and hindi lang (and not only about) political noise and speculations," Romualdez said.
Hosaka said Romualdez has been invited again to attend ICI's hearing next week, but this time, to answer questions related to the affidavit.
"So babalik ulit sya next time (So he will come back again)," Hosaka said. Romualdez told reporters said he was "ready to come back to the commission anytime I'm invited".
Hosaka also said that the commission will also invite Romualdez' "colleagues" who appeared to have also taken part in the budget preparation pertaining to the anomalous flood control projects.
The ex-Speaker's appearance Tuesday in the hearing "is helpful in the sense that it has become clear what was his role and his colleagues' role in the budget preparation", according to Hosaka.
"So these people, we will be inviting soon to shed light on their participation also on the budget preparation which also pertains to the alleged anomalous flood project," Hosaka said.
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