Photo credit: Senate PH

Senator Francis Escudero delivered a lengthy and forceful address on the Senate floor, directly accusing House Speaker Martin Romualdez of masterminding a politically charged "sarsuela" or farce. Escudero claims this plot is intended to divert public anger over alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects away from the House of Representatives and onto the Senate.

Escudero argued that the intense scrutiny senators are facing is a calculated move to shield Romualdez and his congressional allies from accountability. He invoked the Filipino proverb about pointing a finger: "When you point one finger at others, three fingers are always pointing back at you," suggesting the accusations would ultimately implicate the accuser.

Naming the 'Man Behind the Chaos'

The Senator characterized the unfolding events as a clear "script" where former DPWH officials were pressured to name drop senators while allegedly covering up the involvement of congressmen who were the true conspirators in their local areas.

Escudero explicitly identified Martin Romualdez as the one person behind the current political turmoil. He supported this claim by highlighting the testimony of retired Master Sergeant Gutesa. Escudero reiterated Gutesa's sworn statement that he had personally delivered money—specifically 35 suitcases containing an estimated P48 million each, totaling approximately P1.7 billion in one delivery—directly to Romualdez’s house on multiple occasions. He also questioned the massive scale of the flood control budget, noting it was larger than the budget for the entire Department of Agriculture.

Allegations of Selective Justice

Escudero expressed deep concern over what he termed selective justice, pointing out that despite the massive sums of money cited in Gutesa's testimony, Romualdez is seemingly immune from being included in investigations by the DOJ, NBI, or AMLAC.

He noted the speed with which the assets of named senators were targeted with freeze orders compared to the lack of similar action against congressmen, suggesting a bias. He stated that the entire scenario was designed to provide a "politically convenient sacrificial lamb" to appease public rage while allowing the true perpetrators to escape.

The Senator defended his own 27-year-long, unblemished public service record, vowing to fight the malicious and false allegations designed to destroy his reputation and the Senate institution itself.

A Call for True Accountability

Escudero concluded with an appeal to his colleagues, urging them not to be drawn into the divisive script that pits officials against one another. He warned that the ongoing conflict is a part of Romualdez's plan to "confuse, disrupt, deceive, and destroy our society."

He demanded that all investigators probe everyone named, whether congressman, senator, or other official, stressing that this must unequivocally include Martin Romualdez. Escudero ended his address by urging the public and his colleagues to tear up Martin Romualdez’s script to ensure the real culprits are held accountable.