Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero did not just defend himself from accusations in the flood control scandal—he named names. In his privilege speech on Monday, September 29, Escudero tagged Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as the mastermind behind the entire sarswela, the “scriptwriter” orchestrating diversions to protect himself and his allies in the House of Representatives.
Escudero said Romualdez engineered a “script” where senators, including himself, were being falsely implicated to shift public anger away from House lawmakers allegedly tied to the irregularities. He even played a video of protesters chanting “Martin, magnanakaw,” underscoring that people on the ground already see through what he described as a political charade.
Senators as Scapegoats
Escudero maintained that senators were being used as scapegoats—“panakip butas”—so that congressmen “truly controlling the funds” could remain untouched.
He noted that while witnesses repeatedly mentioned senators, there was no direct evidence against them. Instead, he said, the testimonies were designed “to nail the senator in the media and in public and to move the attention away from the House of Representatives.”
Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo alleged that he delivered a 20 percent share—P160 million out of P800 million worth of projects—to Escudero’s friend and campaign donor, Maynard Ngu. Bernardo claimed the money was “meant” for Escudero, but the senator denied any wrongdoing, calling it part of Romualdez’s political theater.
Selective Justice and the Untouchable Romualdez
Escudero raised the glaring inconsistency: why has Romualdez been spared from scrutiny by the DOJ, NBI, and AMLC, despite testimonies directly naming him? Contractors Cazarah “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, as well as former Master Sergeant Orly Guteza, linked Romualdez to the alleged scheme. Guteza testified that he and other aides delivered money-filled suitcases to Romualdez’s residence and to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, both of whom denied the accusations.
“Even though he is no longer a speaker, it seems like he is still ‘The Name That Cannot Be Mentioned,’ and he can still do what he wants to do to impose selective justice,” Escudero said.
That, Escudero argued, is the very definition of selective justice—justice for the powerless, impunity for the powerful.
Greed Masquerading as Accountability
Escudero went further, accusing Romualdez of weaponizing flood control funds “for later release” to pressure House members into supporting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
He said Romualdez knew the Senate would never have enough time to act on impeachment before the 19th Congress adjourned, showing the move was pure political leverage.
“Greed, not accountability, was the reason behind it,” Escudero declared. His words painted Romualdez as using public funds as political currency, all while hiding behind denials and counter-accusations.
The People Pay the Price
This is Romualdez’s sarswela and it is the Filipino people who suffer. As long as no one is held accountable, the public must never remain silent. Because every peso wasted on corruption is a peso stolen from classrooms, hospitals, and communities drowning in floods. Every day that Romualdez hides behind his script, justice is delayed and democracy is weakened. And no matter how many shifting stories are spun to confuse the people, the truth must prevail and the guilty must be held to account.
