Senator Chiz Escudero has explicitly pointed to former Speaker Martin Romualdez as being behind the allegations against him and several senators related to flood control corruption.
In his speech, Escudero said that many DPWH officials are hiding congressmen involved in the controversy. He insisted, “There is only one person behind this script and sarcasm… I will say, Martin Romualdez.”
He added that Romualdez allegedly used FLR funds to pressure some congressmen to support the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. This was denied by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to Escudero.
Romualdez responded and called Escudero's speech the "DDS script." He said, instead of answering the accusation, the senator only blamed. Romualdez added that he has nothing to hide and is ready to face any investigation.
Meanwhile, a witness alleged that suitcases of money or “trash” were delivered to Romualdez and several congressmen as kickbacks from flood control projects. But Romualdez strongly denied this and said it was all lies. It is estimated that ₱118.5 billion to ₱1.025 trillion was lost to the country's economy due to corruption from 2023 to 2025, according to the Department of Finance and Greenpeace.
