Blue Ribbon to recommend case buildup vs Romualdez –Lacson

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday said the revised partial Blue Ribbon Committee report will recommend the continued gathering of evidence against former Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez in relation to his alleged links to the flood control controversy. 

Lacson, chairman of the committee, clarified that Romualdez will not be included in the list of personalities who will be recommended for preliminary investigation under the partial report as there is not enough evidence to show his connection to the issue. 

“In the case of Speaker Romualdez, hindi siya for preliminary investigation kasi nga walang validation, walang corroboration unlike do’n sa iba,” the senator said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(In the case of Speaker Romualdez, he is not recommended for preliminary investigation because there was no validation, no corroboration unlike others.) 

“Kay Speaker Romualdez, ang recommendation doon sa kanya i-pursue ‘yung mga ebidensya na nakalap patungo sa preliminary investigation. Pero wala pa do’n. So more on fact-finding o case build up at saka ‘yung inirecommend siya para ‘yung AMLC, magsagawa ng tracking nung mga movement ng accounts,” he added. 

(The recommendation for Speaker Romualdez is to pursue the evidence that has been gathered against him for the preliminary investigation. But there is nothing yet about that. So the recommendation is more on fact-finding or case buildup and then for the AMLC to track the movement of his accounts.)  

Should there be sufficient evidence to support the allegation of “whistleblower” Orly Guteza, Lacson said that the Blue Ribbon Committee will recommend in its final report the conduct of a preliminary investigation against the former House Speaker, who is a cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

“In the case of Speaker Romualdez, kasi 'di ba ang naging basehan lang sa pag-rerekomenda sa kaniya ‘yung statement ni Guteza. Hindi pa naman kami umaabot doon sa huling pagdinig kasi partial nga ito eh,” Lacson said. 

(In the case of Speaker Romualdez, Guteza's statement would only be the basis for recommending an action against him. We haven't reached that part yet because this is only a partial report.) 

“At saka kung magkakaroon ng pagdinig ng halimbawang merong validation o corroboration doon sa pagli-link kay former Speaker Romualdez, sa final report ng Blue Ribbon, mapapalitan ‘yun. Masasama na siya do’n sa irerekomenda for preliminary investigation.”

(If there will be a hearing where a validation or corroboration linking former Speaker Romualdez to the scandal was given, then the recommendation will be changed in the final report of the Blue Ribbon. He will be recommended for preliminary investigation by then.) 

To recall, Guteza claimed that he personally delivered suitcases of money to the residences of Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co. He was introduced in a flood control hearing on September 25, 2025 by Senator Rodante Marcoleta.

Both Romualdez and Co have denied allegations that they were linked in the flood control scandal.

Atty. Petchie Rose Espera, the lawyer whose notarial information appeared on the affidavit of Guteza, also denied that the signature affixed in the document was hers. She also said the document number, page number, and book number shown in the document do not exist in her notarial records.

In November last year, the referral to the Ombudsman by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) regarding Romualdez was for further investigation, and was "issued without any finding or conclusion of guilt or liability on the part of former Speaker Romualdez.”

The ICI said the transmittal was "made without prejudice to the Commission to accept or receive additional evidence, if any, concerning former Speaker Romualdez." —AOL, GMA Integrated News