Acting Davao Mayor Baste Duterte Seeks Investigation on House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s SALN
BASTE DUTERTE – The acting Mayor of Davao City claimed that the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth or SALN of House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly increased by P2 billion.
Amid the issue of anomalous flood control projects in the Philippines, President Bongbong Marcos ordered a “lifestyle check” among the government officials to start with the DPWH or the Department of Public Works and Highways. The agency earned massive criticisms amid the discovery of several ‘ghost’ and substandard flood control structures funded by the government.
Marcos Jr. was greatly disappointed over the recent discoveries on the infrastructures funded by the government. His call for a “lifestyle check” among the government officials earned the support of many public officials.
However, amid the ‘SALN disclosure’ being a challenge again to government officials, acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte threw an accusation against House Speaker Martin Romualdez over his SALN. He claimed that there is allegedly a sharp rise on the Speaker’s wealth in just three (3) years.
Based on a post of Mindanao Times on social media, acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte questioned the allegedly over P2-billion increase in the SALN of House Speaker Martin Romualdez from 2022 to 2025. Duterte just arrived from The Hague, Netherlands a few days ago wherein he visited his father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
“Romualdez’ SALN in 2022 was only ₱200 million, ngayon ₱3 billion na,” the younger Duterte said.
Based on the post, acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte wants the House Committee on Appropriations to probe not only the SALN of Speaker Martin Romualdez but as well as the wealth of Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
Amid the order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for a “lifestyle check” among the government officials, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed support on the order of the President. However, she suggested that it should not be shallow and should not settle with just the presentation of SALN.
Furthermore, Vice Pres. Duterte claimed that the order should reveal the “dummies” of the public officials. She stressed that the “lifestyle check” must be “deep-dive”.
However, the OVP has issued a statement with regards to a request for the disclosure of the SALN of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.