Sen. Francis Escudero took to the Senate floor yesterday to accuse former speaker Martin Romualdez of orchestrating a ‘scripted farce’ to divert to the Senate public outrage over the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.
‘Lalabanan ko siya (I will fight him),’ Escudero said.
His diatribe was hurled days after the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of charges against him and several senators, based on a sworn affidavit presented at a Blue Ribbon committee hearing.
Escudero said senators were being used as ‘fall guys’ while members of the House of Representatives linked to anomalous projects were being shielded.
Reacting to Escudero’s speech, Romualdez said it was a ‘script’ prepared by the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte, specifically by the so-called DDS or Duterte diehard supporters of their family.
Earlier, the DOJ listed Escudero, Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla as among those facing criminal complaints in relation to the flood control scandal.
While former Rep. Zaldy Co was also recommended by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for indictment and prosecution, Romualdez was not among those facing charges.
‘In the past weeks, it’s been very clear that public outrage over ghost and substandard projects is being diverted from those guilty to the Senate and to some of its members,’ Escudero said in Filipino. ‘Senators are being made fall guys.’
‘There’s only one person behind this script and zarzuela – Martin Romualdez,’ he said.
He cited testimonies from former marine M/Sgt. Jay Guteza, who told senators that he had personally delivered suitcases of cash to Romualdez’s residence, as well as earlier disclosures by Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.
Escudero recalled Guteza’s testimony about having delivered 35 suitcases containing cash to Romualdez’s residence.
‘Despite this, isn’t it perplexing that Romualdez has never been included in any investigation by the DOJ, NBI or AMLC,’ referring to the Department of Justice and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
The senator alleged Romualdez had also weaponized the release of ‘for later release’ (FLR) funds and even used the impeachment complaint against the Vice President to pressure lawmakers.
The Vice President, who attended a budget hearing and conducted a press conference with reporters at the Senate in the morning, was present during the session after visiting allies in the chamber in the afternoon.
Escudero, who insisted he has ‘never been accused nor charged with corruption’ in his 27 years in public service, vowed to defend himself and the institution.
‘I will not allow justice to be weaponized against the innocent to protect the guilty. Let’s not follow the script of Martin Romualdez. Let everyone be held accountable and investigated – and this should include Martin Romualdez,’ he said.
Disbarment case
Escurdero, meanwhile, filed a disbarment case against lawyer Jesus Nicardo Madarang Falcis III over his ‘demeaning’ and ‘hateful’ social media posts.
In seeking Falcis disbarment, Escudero cited the lawyer’s several Facebook posts allegedly containing accusatory, defamatory, demeaning, speculative, hateful and/or malicious statements and remarks against him.
These, he said, are ‘all unbecoming of a member of the Philippine Bar and quite unfortunately, against a fellow member of the Philippine Bar.’
He also said Falcis’ ‘unwarranted and professionally irresponsible statements and remarks’ were made in connection with the issue on the government flood control programs, including the 2025 national budget deliberations.
‘Unfortunately, marked by ill-tempered and hateful language, respondent’s tirades in social media betray not only a lack of restraint and virtue expected of a lawyer, but also an inexplicable contempt for complainant,’ Escudero’s complaint read.
‘Clearly at stake is not only the complainant’s good name and reputation, but also the integrity and honor of the legal profession,’ Escudero said.
In a statement, Falcis said Escudero should be the one disbarred for violating Rule 139-B, Section 18 of the Rules of Court, which provides for the confidentiality of proceedings against a lawyer.
DDS script
Romualdez, meanwhile, shrugged off Escudero’s accusations. ‘With respect, what we heard was not an exposé but a DDS script – the same recycled accusations we have long seen on troll pages and social media posts. Nothing new, no iota of truth as well,’ the former speaker said.
‘It was a performance designed to profess loyalty and service to VP Duterte, and to position himself as her ally for 2028. The only service he is trying to render is not the truth, but of self-interest and political plans in the future,’ Romualdez, a first cousin of President Marcos, added.
‘Instead of answering the serious questions he himself must face, Escudero chose to deflect. He did not deny the allegations against him. He did not explain his own role in flood-control kickbacks. Instead of explaining himself, he took the blame game route,’ he said.
‘The truth is staring at us very clearly: the speech of Escudero is not about accountability, but only in the pursuance of his personal ambition,’ the congressman from the first district of Leyte province said.
‘For my part, I will continue to cooperate with every impartial investigation. My record can withstand scrutiny. I have nothing to hide. As for Sen. Escudero, kung tunay na pananagutan ang hanap, sa presinto na siya magpaliwanag,’ Romualdez said.