Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez accused the supposed exposé of Senator Francis (Chiz) Escudero as a “DDS script,” referring to Duterte Diehard Supporters.

“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,” reads Romualdez’ official statement issued on Monday, September 29, 2025.

Romualdez said that Escudero, former Senate president, did not respond to the serious questions in his privilege speech.

“Instead of answering the serious questions he himself must face, Sen. Escudero chose to deflect. He did not deny the allegations against him. He did not explain his own role in flood-control kickbacks. Imbes na magpaliwanag, nanisi siya,” Romualdez, former speaker of the House of Representatives, added.

He pointed out that Escudero’s speech is not about accountability, but a way of pushing his personal ambition.

“Malinaw naman ang katotohanan: ang talumpati ni Sen. Escudero ay hindi tungkol sa pananagutan, kundi para isulong ang kanyang personal na ambisyon,” Romualdez added.

Further, Romualdez described the speech as a performance to profess service to Vice President Sara Duterte.

“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 interest at plano sa politika,” Romualdez stressed.

Furthermore, Romualdez vowed to cooperate with investigations.

“For my part, I will continue to cooperate with every impartial investigation. My record can withstand scrutiny. Wala akong itinatago. As for Sen. Escudero, kung tunay na pananagutan ang hanap, sa presinto na siya magpaliwanag,” Romualdez added.

Escudero on September 29, 2025 said that Romualdez used “for-later release,” or FLR allocations, in asking House members to sign the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

He alleged that Romualdez used the FLR allocations and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s name to push for the impeachment complaint against Duterte that was later declared unconstitutional.

On July 25, 2025, the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, noting that it is barred by the “one-year rule under Article XI, Section 3(5) of the Constitution and that it violates the right to due process enshrined in the Bill of Rights.”

“Therefore, the Senate could not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings,” the Supreme Court decision underscored.