Former Speaker Martin Romualdez Tagged in Flood Control Mess in PH
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – Public works chief Vince Dizon revealed the cases recommended by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the International Criminal Court (ICI) against the former House Speaker.
Several big names were dragged into the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption and alleged budget insertion mess in the Philippines. The issue that led thousands of Filipinos to the streets to protest against corruption triggered the change in the leaderships of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House speaker after contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya tagged him in the alleged kickback system for the flood control projects funded by the government. The Discayas name him, then-Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, and several other congressmen during a Senate flood control hearing.
According to Romualdez, he resigned from being the House Speaker so the Independent Commission for Infrastructure can fully perform its mandate without undue influence. The ICI was created upon the order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Marcos Jr. previously claimed that former Speaker Martin Romualdez and his allies will not be spared from the flood control investigation. He recently claimed that he started the flood control investigation and he will be the one to finish it.
Aside from the Discayas, Orly Guteza, a former marine who is also a former aide of Zaldy Co, claimed that he was allegedly part of the group who delivered suitcases filled with millions of money to the residences of Co and Romualdez. Amid staying out of the country, Co confirmed the testimony of Guteza.
Zaldy Co also claimed that Marcos Jr. and Romualdez allegedly masterminded a P100-billion budget insertion in the funds of the country for this year. According to the former chairman of the House Committee on Budget Appropriations, the President and the former Speaker also allegedly received a P56-billion kickback.
Undeniably, amid the ongoing flood control investigation and the filing of raps, many Filipinos await if charges will be filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Recently, Public Works chief Vince Dizon confirmed the cases recommended by the DPWH and ICI against the Leyte Congressman.
Based on a post of News5 on social media, Public works chief Vince Dizon claimed that the DPWH and the ICI recommended to the Office of Ombudsman the filing of plunder, violation of the anti-graft practices act, and direct bribery charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez. The remarks of the DPWH Chief came amid the claims that Romualdez is allegedly receiving special treatment.
“Ang wala lang po diyan na hindi pa namin marekomenda is ‘yung malversation against speaker Martin Romualdez kasi kailangan pa po ng dagdag na ebidensya [para] ma-establish na may malversation,” Dizon said.
Amid the allegations against the former House Speaker as well as the rift that divides the Marcos Jr. administration and the Dutertes, a video of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte endorsing former Speaker Martin Romualdez resurfaced.