Marcos doesn't feel he's being blamed by Romualdez in budget corruption —Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. doesn't feel that he is being blamed by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez when the latter said that if anyone bears command responsibility over the controversial 2025 national budget, it would be the Executive branch.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked if Marcos doesn't feel that he is being blamed by his cousin, the former Speaker as regards corruption issues.

''Yes, because being the commander-in-chief, being the Chief Executive, ano po ba ang mandato ng isang Presidente, hindi po ba linisin ang mga anomalya sa gobyerno, kahit tamaan na ang kanyang administrasyon? So, ang ibig sabihin po nito, kung nakita niya, being the President, mayroon siyang obligasyon na paimbestigahan ito at linisin ang kalat na nangyayari sa kanyang administrasyon kung mayroon man,'' Castro responded.

(Yes, because being the commnder-in-chief, being the Chief Executive, what's the mandate of the President, isn't it cleansing the government from anomalis even his own administration would be hit? If he sees that there's something wrong, he has the obligation to have these issues be investigated.) 

Castro also reiterated that it was the President who ordered an investigation into the anomalies in flood control projects.

''Siya po ang nagpa-utos na magpa-imbestiga. Kapag sinabi po nating executive, hindi lamang po ang Pangulo ang nasa executive, kaya nga po nagkaroon ng ICI, hindi lamang po nanatili na ad hoc committee ang mag-investigate, nag-create ng independent investigating body, para po hindi masabing mayroong kino-cover-up lalo na po patungkol sa DPWH,'' she said.

(He's the one who ordered for an investigation. If we say executive, it's not solely the President. There's the ICI, an independent investigating body that was created so that they will not say that there's a cover-up in the probe.)

Romualdez earlier denied any role in the corruption related to the 2025 national budget, stressing there is "no evidence that proves that he committed plunder, conspiracy to commit plunder, or any similar offense that the Ombudsman may be contemplating against me."

Romualdez argued that if he were indeed the mastermind, his district in Tacloban should have benefited the most. However, he maintained that there is not a single “ghost project” in his district.

Further, he said two people were instrumental in making those budget decisions, mentioning former Senate President Francis ''Chiz'' Escudero and former lawmaker Zaldy Co.

Meanwhile, Castro said it's up to Romualdez to voice his sentiments regarding the accusations being thrown against him.

''Kung ano po ang nararamdaman ni dating Speaker Martin Romualdez ay hindi po natin ito saklaw. Kung ang pag-iimbestiga po ay makakatulong mismo ang dating Speaker, mas gugustuhin po iyan ng pamahalaan, ng Pangulo para managot ang dapat na managot,'' she said. 

(Whatever former Speaker Martin Romualdez feels, we have nothing to do with it. If investigating the former Speaker would help, the government will certainly welcome it.) 

The camp of Romualdez said it expects due process to be observed after a complaint was lodged against him for alleged plunder and money laundering, among others. —VAL, GMA News