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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Whatever sticks to the wall? Barbers says there's a 'hit or miss demolition' job vs Romualdez

Whatever sticks to the wall? Barbers says there's a 'hit or miss demolition' job vs Romualdez

Published Oct 22, 2025 01:27 pm

At A Glance

  • Former House quad-committee (quad-comm) overall chairman Robert Ace Barbers says there's a "hit or miss demolition job" against Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez based on the recent string of allegations against the latter.
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), former Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (PPAB)
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), former Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (PPAB)


Former House quad-committee (quad-comm) overall chairman Robert Ace Barbers says there's a “hit or miss demolition job” against Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez based on the recent string of allegations against the latter.
Barbers, former lead figure of the House Quad Committe, said the pattern of baseless charges suggests a coordinated smear drive aimed at undermining the credibility of the former Speaker.
In particular, Barbers cited Orly Guteza’s surprise appearance before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee last Sept. 25 as the starting point of "a wave of follow-up stories and unverified claims targeting Romualdez".
Guteza, a self-proclaimed former Marine sergeant, alleged that he and several companions personally delivered several suitcases loaded with cash to the residences of Romualdez and then- Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
Romualdez swiftly denied the accusation, which he described as fabricated, malicious, and politically motivated. He aaid. no such delivery ever took place.
His legal team questioned the authenticity of Guteza’s affidavit and pointed to discrepancies in dates and circumstances, including the fact that the Romualdez residence was reportedly unoccupied due to renovation during the alleged delivery period.
Barbers--no stranger to leading high-profile hearings--said that the Senate panel should handle the testimony with caution. He noted that the statement of a lone witness without corroboration can easily be used as a tool for character assassination.
After his lone appearance at the Senate hearing, Guteza reportedly failed to submit himself to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to affirm his allegations, and instead, had since gone missing.
Barbers momentarily served as Romualdez's spokesperson in the days leading to the latter's resignation as House Speaker last Sept. 17.
More allegations raised
The former Surigao del Norte congressman observed that the Guteza episode coincided with other reports attempting to link Romualdez to alleged anomalies in farm-to-market road projects in Tacloban City and with the circulation of fake news about the ex-Speaker being made a state witness in the flood control projects mess.
However, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. later clarified that an internal audit showed the projects in Leyte and Tacloban to be in order, with no ghost or substandard roads identified. Tacloban is Romualdez's political stronghold.
Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno likewise said the timing of the allegations was suspicious and suggested they were part of a coordinated demolition campaign against the former Speaker.
A number of social media posts have also emerged to falsely claim that Romualdez was being considered as a possible state witness by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in the flood control mess.
The DOJ immediately denied the report and stated categorically that Romualdez had never applied for, nor was he being considered for, any form of witness protection or testimonial immunity.
Then-DOJ secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla even branded the online posts as “misinformation” and clarified that no such discussions existed within the agency.
Barbers said the spread of fake news about Romualdez being a state witness was likely intended to embarrass the former Speaker or to lend false credibility to graft allegations that remain unproven.
He stressed that public discourse should be based on verified facts rather than orchestrated propaganda, warning that such tactics erode trust in institutions and damage reputations without due process.
The same sentiment on due process was aired a few days ago by Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Director Rafael ‘Apa’ Ongpin, who called on President Marcos to stay impartial in pursuing the quest for truth and in exacting accountability to those behind the public works controversy, particulary in flood control projects.
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