MANILA — Former House Speaker and Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez has expressed openness to personally appearing before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as it resumes its investigation into the alleged multibillion-peso flood control fund irregularities — a move that could mark a crucial turning point in the high-profile probe.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III revealed that he recently spoke with Romualdez over the phone and sensed the lawmaker’s willingness to cooperate.
“We had a call… I mentioned (to him) that there is a possibility that we can send an invitation… just in between chit-chats,” Sotto said in an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s On Point program. “He was quite positive about it. I did not notice any pessimism.”
Sotto added that Romualdez seemed ready to attend the hearing but would first study the scope of his possible testimony, particularly on alleged budget insertions linked to questionable flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
When asked directly if Romualdez was open to appearing before the Senate, Sotto replied, “Yes, we ended into that possibility. ‘Sige, pag-aralan natin,’” recalling the lawmaker’s response.
The Senate leader dismissed insinuations that he was protecting his former House counterpart, clarifying that his adherence to inter-parliamentary courtesy should not be mistaken for bias.
“I have never protected anyone. It is not in my nature to do so,” Sotto said.
He also confirmed that Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is set to reassume the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which he briefly vacated last month following internal disagreements on the conduct of the probe.
The Senate inquiry centers on alleged corruption and anomalous fund allocations in DPWH flood control projects reportedly involving top lawmakers and officials./PN
