Chiz sees 'diversions' to absolve Romualdez

Allies of former House speaker Martin Romualdez were engaged in “diversionary” tactics apparently to burnish his image and absolve him of any responsibility for anomalies in flood control projects, Sen. Francis Escudero said yesterday.

- NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS, Jose Rodel Clapano

Escudero’s remarks came after Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno suggested in several media interviews that Romualdez had no direct hand in the budget insertions and irregularities in flood control allocations from 2022 to 2024.

"What they're doing is funny.

They're quick to absolve speaker Romualdez, implicate Rep. Zaldy Co., divert the issue and do some fingerpointing," Escudero said in Filipino.

In an interview with ANC, Puno said Escudero shares the blame together with Co.

Congressmen and public works officials were portrayed as pawns of Romualdez and Co in a sworn statement submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee by top contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

Several other congressmen were named by the Discaya couple, who detailed years of kickbacks and political pressure to secure public works contracts.