MANILA – The camp of Leyte 1st district’s Cong. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has dismissed as implausible the allegations raised by two witnesses during a recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged corruption in flood control projects.
In a statement, Atty. Ade Fajardo, counsel and spokesperson for Romualdez, said the testimonies presented before the panel chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson were contradicted by sworn statements and lacked supporting documents.
Fajardo pointed to the testimony of contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, a central figure in the controversy, who categorically stated under oath that he had never entered South Forbes Park in Makati City.
This, according to Fajardo, directly undermines the claims of the witnesses identified as “Joy” and “Marie,” who alleged that Discaya approached individuals or issued instructions at the exclusive property.
“The allegations aired in the Senate are logically and physically impossible,” Fajardo said. “Curlee Discaya testified under oath that he has never entered South Forbes Park, making it impossible for him to have approached anyone there or issued any instruction.”
Fajardo further claimed that the accusations stemmed from the staff of a former tenant who had been evicted from the property, stressing that the statements were unsupported by records.
“The claims come solely from the staff of an evicted tenant, unsupported by any document,” he said, noting that Romualdez’s name “appears in no deed, contract, or payment record related to the property”.
Discaya earlier denied allegations that he acted as a “front” for the former House Speaker in the supposed acquisition of a luxury property, a claim Fajardo said finds no basis in available evidence.
“There is no evidence — only hearsay and possibly perjured statements — and therefore nothing to answer,” Fajardo said.
He emphasized that allegations raised in legislative inquiries should be weighed against sworn testimony and verifiable records, warning against drawing conclusions from unsubstantiated claims aired in public hearings./PN
