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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Outright baseless': Romualdez camp denies property purchase link with Discayas

'Outright baseless': Romualdez camp denies property purchase link with Discayas

Published Jan 14, 2026 06:25 pm

At A Glance

  • Former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez has denied anything to do with the controversial contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya as far as alleged purchase of property is concerned.
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), Curlee Discaya (PPAB)
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), Curlee Discaya (PPAB)


Former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez has denied anything to do with the controversial contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya as far as alleged purchase of property is concerned. 
Romualdez issued this denial through his lawyer-slash-spokesperson, Ade Fajardo, on late Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 14.
"With reference to recent news reports linking former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to the Discayas through an alleged property purchase, Rep. Romualdez has no knowledge [or] involvement in the purported transaction," Fajardo said in a statement.
"Rep. Romualdez has not met the Discayas and has only heard of them based on what is being said in media reports. As such, the claim in the report about using the Discayas as a front in a property purchase is outright baseless," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Fajardo said that it was important to place on public record what was clearly and unequivocally stated by Curlee Discaya under oath.
In his testimony before the House of Representatives in September 2025, Mr. Discaya categorically declared: “Gusto ko lang pong linawin na wala po akong direktang transaksyon. Hindi po ako nagkaroon ng anumang klaseng transaksyon kay Speaker Martin Romualdez.”
(I would like to clarify that I didn't have any direct transaction. I didn't have any kind of transaction with Speaker Martin Romualdez.)
"Mr. Discaya further explained that the Speaker’s name was merely being used or name-dropped by others, without any personal knowledge, meeting, or transaction on his part. This sworn testimony is part of the official congressional record and directly contradicts the insinuations now being revived in public discourse," Fajardo pointed out.
"Let us be reminded that allegations cannot override testimony given under oath. Facts cannot be replaced by speculation. To quote Senator [Panfilo] Lacson in the earlier media briefing, 'Noise does not convict. Neither does it indict even who may be perceived as the most guilty in the… flood control project saga. Only evidence does,'” the lawyer added.
"Rep. Martin Romualdez respects institutional processes and is confident that any fair and evidence-based inquiry will ultimately prove him right," Fajardo further said.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which Lacson chairs, is scheduled to resume its probe on flood control projects corruption scandal on Jan. 19.
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