SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero accused allies of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of resorting to diversionary tactics to shield him from allegations of irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects.

In a report by Philstar, Escudero issued the remark on Wednesday, September 17, after Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno claimed in media interviews that Romualdez had no role in the budget insertions flagged from 2022 to 2024, pointing instead to the former Senate president and Representative Zaldy Co as responsible during bicameral deliberations.

Escudero said that Romualdez’s allies were too quick to absolve the former Speaker, shifting the blame to Co and engaging in finger-pointing to divert the issue.

Citing reports from the Commission on Audit, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and whistleblower testimonies, Escudero stressed that the real problem lies in “ghost projects,” substandard works, and alleged kickbacks tied to flood control allocations,

Escudero urged the public not to be distracted by political narratives meant to cloud the investigation after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos revealed that nearly P545 billion was earmarked for flood control from July 2022 to May 2025, with almost 20 percent of the funds awarded to just 15 contractors. (Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)

• Tags
• #Senator Francis Escudero
• #Martin Romualdez
• #Ronaldo Puno
• #Zaldy Co
• #flood control scandal Philippines
• #multibillion-peso infrastructure irregularities
• #ghost projects
• #DPWH corruption allegations
• #Commission on Audit reports
• #DBM budget insertions
• #allege