Chiz declares war on Martin, who sees DDS 'script'

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.

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"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 resigned congressman 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.