Escudero says Romualdez behind Sara impeachment; Martin says Chiz read from DDS script

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday said that former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez used "for-later-release" allocations to ask House members to sign the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a manifestation in the Senate plenary, the former Senate President said this was the reason why he called for prudence and level-headedness when some sectors were passionate in moving for the removal of the Vice President.

In a statement, Romualdez said Escudero's manifestation was meant to position himself as an ally of the Vice President in the 2028 elections.

He said Escudero's remarks were from a Duterte Diehard Supporters' (DDS) script, calling them rehashed and false. 

For-later-release funds

“Uulitin ko po, ginamit ni Martin Romualdez ang FLR at ang pangalan ni Pangulong Marcos upang itulak ang kanilang unconstitutional na impeachment complaint. Sabi nila, ‘Pumirma kayo. Dahil kung hindi, hindi ilalabas ang inyong pondo na naka-FLR bago mag eleksyon,’” Escudero said. 

(Martin Romualdez used the FLR and President Marcos's name to push for the unconstitutional impeachment complaint. They said, 'Sign it or else your funds that are for later release won't be disbursed before the elections.)

Escudero said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos turned down the plan, and the funds remained under the FLR. 

“And that is why, at the height of the impeachment controversy and amidst the passion of some sectors to remove the Vice President at all costs, I urged prudence and level-headedness because I knew that greed and not accountability was the reason behind it,” Escudero said.

In August, the Senate, which was then under Escudero’s leadership, voted to transfer to the archives the articles of impeachment against Duterte, following the Supreme Court (SC) decision to declare her impeachment unconstitutional.

READ: The Impeachment Trial of Sara Duterte

DDS script

"I listened to the privilege speech of Sen. Chiz Escudero. With respect, what we heard was not an exposé but a DDS script — the same recycled accusations we have long seen on troll pages and social media posts. Walang bago, at wala ring katotohanan,” Romualdez said.

“My record can withstand scrutiny. Wala akong itinatago,” he added.

Romualdez said Escudero's manifestation was meant to profess his alliance with Sara Duterte.

“Malinaw naman ang katotohanan. Ang talumpati ni Senator Escudero ay hindi tungkol sa pananagutan, kundi para isulong ang kanyang personal na ambisyon.  It was a performance designed to profess loyalty and service to Vice President Sara Duterte, and to position himself as her ally for 2028,” Romualdez said.

(The truth is clear. The speech of Senator Escudero is not about accountability but meant to promote his personal ambition. It was a performance designed to profess loyalty and service to Vice President Sara Duterte, and to position himself as her ally for 2028.)

"Ang tunay na pinagsisilbihan ay hindi ang katotohanan, kundi ang sariling interes at plano sa politika," he added.

(The one being served is not the truth but selfish interests and political plans.)

‘Zarzuela’

Escudero further alleged that Romualdez made a “script and zarzuela” in a bid to disrupt, deceive, and destroy the country just so he would not be implicated. 

“Iisang tao lamang, Ginoong Pangulo, ang nasa script at sarsuwelang ito. Siya ang dahilan ng kaguluhan, pagkakaaway-away, at pagkakawatak-watak na ngayo’y yumayanig sa ating bayan maprotektahan lamang ang sarili niya," Escudero said.

Ang pangalan niya ay matagal nang bulung bulungan sa bawat sulok ng bansa, pero ngayon, unti unti nang sinisigaw ng taumbayan,” he said. 

“Pero bakit tila ang Kamara, ang Senado at ang ilang media ay hindi pa din kayang sambitin ang pangalan niya” Pwes, sasabihin ko: Martin Romualdez,” Escudero said.. 

Roberto Bernardo

During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Thursday, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo tagged Escudero, former senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay, and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co amid the investigation into anomalous and ghost flood control projects.

Bernardo claimed that the alleged delivery of P160 million worth of commissions off infrastructure projects for Escudero happened in the first quarter of this year when he was still Senate President.

Escudero said that he would sue Bernardo for what he described as “malicious allegations and innuendos” made against him. 

Romualdez called on Escudero to answer the allegations of his role in the flood control projects controversy.

“Instead of answering the serious questions he himself must face, Senator Escudero chose to deflect. He did not deny the allegations against him. He did not explain his own role in flood-control kickbacks,” Romualdez said.

“Imbes na magpaliwanag, nanisi siya. Kung tunay na pananagutan ang hanap niya, sa presinto na siya magpaliwanag," he added.

(Instead of explaining, he shifted the blame. If he is indeed after accountability here, he should explain himself to the authorities.) –NB, GMA Integrated News