Sara Duterte wants Romualdez detained at House, Zaldy Co returned to PH

Vice President Sara Duterte once again questioned the Marcos administration’s sincerity in investigating the flood control mess, as Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co supposedly remain unpunished after being linked to the controversy. 

Duterte, in an interview in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday, alleged that the flood control probe and the recent change in leadership in the House of Representatives were just preparations for the 2028 presidential elections. 

“Isa sa mga examples na masabi ko sa inyo na wala talaga silang sinseridad sa imbestigasyon sa flood control kasi tinuro na, pinangalanan na, hindi lang ako ang nagsabi, Zaldy Co at Martin Romualdez. Si Zaldy Co, hinayaan nilang umalis ng bansa. Si Martin Romualdez, hinayaan nilang mag-resign. Nag-resign naman na, so tapos na ang usapan,” Duterte said. 

(One of the examples to prove that they don't really have sincerity in the flood control investigation is regarding Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez. They let Zaldy Co leave the country and they let Martin Romualdez resign as Speaker.) 

“Ang Office of the President, involved sila sa kidnapping ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Bakit ngayon, nawala si Zaldy Co at maalis si Martin Romualdez, hindi man lang nila magawa na kidnapin si Zaldy Co doon sa Amerika at ibalik dito sa atin sa Pilipinas? At hindi man lang nila magawa na ikulong si Martin Romualdez diyan sa detention unit ng House of Representatives?”

(The Office of the President was involved in the kidnapping of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Now, why can’t they also kidnap Zaldy Co in America and bring him back here in the Philippines? Why can't they detain Martin Romualdez in the detention unit of the House of Representatives?"

Contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya earlier alleged that lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways  officials who ask them for commissions off government projects frequently mention the name of Romualdez and Co in relation to commissions from flood control projects.

Curlee, however, later clarified that he did not have any direct transactions with Romualdez and Co.

Co, former chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, is currently on medical leave in the United States. Romualdez, meanwhile, resigned as House Speaker on Wednesday, and was replaced by Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III. 

Duterte said that the government seemingly does not care that the two House members were implicated in the issue because no action has been taken against them. 

“Wala. Dahil wala silang sinseridad, pinapakita lang nila sa mga tao na kunwari meron silang ginagawa. Pero ang totoo niyan, naghahanda lang sila para sa hatian ng 2026 budget at para sa kung anong gagawin nila sa 2028,” the Vice President said. 

(There’s none. Because they don't have sincerity, they just want to show people that they are doing something. But the truth is, they are just preparing to mangle the 2026 budget and the 2028 elections.) 

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has assured the public that his allies, including Romualdez and Co, would not be spared in the probe of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure into anomalous and ghost flood control projects.

Both Romualdez and Co denied the accusations made against them.

GMA News Online reached out to the camps of Romualdez and Co for their comment and will publish it once available. —AOL, GMA Integrated News