President Marcos' categorical declaration that there is no evidence linking Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez to any flood control project controversy has “finally ended all attempts to make him a political fall guy".

Thus, said Robert Ace Barbers, chief political officer of the former House Speaker, in a statement Friday, Nov. 14.

“With the President himself saying there is no evidence against former Speaker Romualdez, all scapegoating efforts collapse on their own. Tapos na ang fall guy narrative (The fall guy narrative is finished)," Barbers, a former three-term Surigao del Norte 2nd district congressman, said.

"Pero siyempre hindi titigil ang mga iyan na ipasok si [former] Speaker sa kanilang narrative na blame him (But of course, they will not stop from inserting the [former] Speaker into their narrative to blame him)," he said, referring to the Leyte solon.

“Ngayon magsisimula ang tunay na trabaho… dahil malinaw ang sinabi ng Pangulo… katotohanan at pananagutan ang dapat manaig (Now the real work begins… because the President has made it clear… truth and accountability must prevail),” Barbers stressed.

The former House quad-comm lead chairman underscored evidence--not empty claims and conjecture--should reign supreme. “Ang anumang alegasyon ay dapat patunayan sa pamamagitan ng malinaw at mapagkakatiwalaang ebidensya, hindi sa hearsay o kasinungalingan (Any allegation must be proven through clear and reliable evidence, not through hearsay or lies)."

He stressed that the focus should now shift to “those truly involved in the anomalies — the ones backed by receipts, documents, and verifiable records".

With Romualdez cleared, Barbers said investigators can now “zero in on the real paper trail” — from project lists and budget insertions to contract issuances and engineering validations.

Barbers noted that this has saved the the inquiry from being derailed or “hijacked by political agendas” aimed at pinning blame on personalities not linked to the transactions under scrutiny.

The Mindanaon further said the President’s statement reinforces a core principle of governance: "Walang kaso kung walang ebidensya (No evidence means there is no case)."

“The President reaffirmed that accountability must be anchored on facts, not on noise or speculation,” Barbers said.