SPEAKER Martin Romualdez yesterday denied that he was among the lawmakers who allegedly accepted commissions from flood control projects, saying he “cannot and will not allow lies and name-dropping to pass unchecked.”
“The claim in the Discaya couple’s affidavit that my name was used for commissions is false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping. Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain (I have nothing to do, I did nit permit and I did not give my blessing for such activities),” the Speaker said in a statement.
Romualdez said that while Congress holds debates and approves the annual national budget, it does not release funds and does not implement projects because “that is the sole duty of the Executive and agencies like the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways).”
“If anyone invoked my name, they did so without my knowledge and without my consent. At kung ginawa nila iyon para kumita, sila ang mandaraya at sila ang dapat managot (And if they did that to profit, they should be held liable),” he said.
“And I say this with all honesty: I have never, and I will never, accept a bribe from anybody. Walang sinuman ang kayang manuhol sa akin (No one can bribe me). Alam iyan ng lahat ng House Members (All House Members know that). I am self-made, and I have been blessed with the trust of the Filipino people. I do not need — and will never allow myself — to be corrupted by money that does not belong to me,” the Speaker added.
Romualdez said that if anyone from the government or outside it used his name, they should be made to answer “but let us not allow lies and name-dropping to destroy reputations or weaken faith in Congress.”
“I will not allow falsehoods to tarnish my integrity or the institution I lead. Under my watch, we will clean the system, punish the guilty, and protect the people’s money,” the House leader said.
Other lawmakers also denied that they benefited from flood control project commissions.
In a statement, Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, Ako Bicol) “vehemently deny all the baseless and irresponsible accusations made against me during the Senate hearing held today.”
Co said the “unsubstantiated claims, which attempt to implicate me are not only hearsay but are also politically motivated designed to mislead the public and deflect accountability.”
The former chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, who is reportedly in the United States, said the 2025 national budget was certified and approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the President.
“As mentioned during the Senate hearing, the President even vetoed some provisions and withheld the release of funds for projects,” he said.
However, since the validity of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is currently the subject of a case before the Supreme Court and the Office of the Ombudsman, Co said he is “unable to comment on the matter to the public but reserve my right to comment on this matter, if and when, required by the courts where this matter is pending.”
“Ang pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong pang-imprastratura ng pamahalaan ay tungkulin lamang ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Hindi natin alam at wala tayong kinalaman sa anumang proseso nito (The implementation of the government’s infrastructure projects is the responsibility of the DPWH. We do not know and we don’t have anything to do with this process),” Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela said in a statement.
As part of his duties as a legislator, Tarriela said his role is limited to proposing local projects such as roads, multipurpose buildings, classrooms, public markets as requested by barangays to be funded under the annual national budget.
“Ang pagtukoy at pagpopondo ng malalaking government projects tulad ng flood control ay trabaho ng DPWH Regional o National office at hindi ng congressman (The identification and funding of big government projects like flood control is the job of the DPWH Regional or National Office and not congressmen),” he said.
Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo said the allegation against him is “not true.”
“I strongly deny these malicious and fabricated allegations linking me to anomalous bidding. I was never involved in any bidding nor is selecting contractors for DPWH projects,” he said.
“In this regard, it is quite clear that these accusations are nothing more than an attempt to divert attention, shift blame and evade accountability for matters properly within their responsibility. Such tactics undermine the integrity of official proceedings and mislead the public with baseless insinuations. I challenge my accusers to present clear and solid evidence,” he said.
Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona also denied the Discayas’ allegation, saying that to his recollection, “wala akong project sa kanya, so anong basehan ng sinabi niyang pagbigay niya sa akin? (I don’t have a project with him, so what’s the basis of his claim of giving me money?)
“I heard he (Mr. Discaya) bid on projects sa aming budget sa (for our budget in) Romblon pero (but) I have no hand and knowledge on how he pays those involved,” he also said.
Former representative and now San Jose del Monte City Mayor Florida Robes vowed to file a libel complaint against the Discayas.
“Kung sino man gumagamit ng pangalan ko, mangilabot naman kayo! (Whoever used my name, be ashamed!)” she said. “Kitang-kita naman ng marami kung gaano na kaganda ang San Jose del Monte ngayon. Walang ghost project dito at pang-world class ang aming mga infrastructure (Everyone can see how beautiful San Jose del Monte now. There are no ghost projects here and our infrastructure is world-class),” she said.
Marikina City Rep. Marcelino Tedoro called the allegation against him as a “demolition job, a cheap shot to malign me,” as he questioned the timing of the Discayas’ allegation.
He pointed out that his name was included in the list right after he exposed the DPWH’s double funding of projects in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026.
“Ngayon naman ay ako ang pilit na idinadawit sa mga kalokohan nila (And now, I’m being dragged into their mess),” he said. “Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na ito ay diversionary tactics ng mga sindikato para malihis sa tunay na issue ng corruption and anomalies sa flood control projects ng DPWH (It’s clear that this is just diversionary tactics of syndicates to divert attention from the real issue of corruption and anomalies in flood control projects of the DPWH),” he said in a statement.
Teodoro, a former mayor, said the late congressman Bayani Fernando was the district’s representative when Marikina city contracts were awarded to the Discayas, and not him.
“Wala akong kinalaman doon, dahil hindi pa ako congressman noon (I’m not involved because I was not a congressman yet),” he said. “Kaya malinaw na ang mga akusasyong ito ay mali, malisy oso, at walang ibang layunin kundi sirain ang pangalan ko at ang tiwala ng mga taga-Marikina sa akin (That’s why the accusation is clearly false, malicious and has no other motive but to malign my name and destroy the trust of the people of Marikina in me).”
Teodoro said he never demanded or received money, favors or any benefit “in exchange for political influence o legislative action.”
He said he is “contemplating on filing charges against the Discayas for lying and for trying to besmirch my good reputation.”
“I am planning to file perjury dahil may false testimony sila (because they have a false testimony) in a legislative hearing, and perjury dahil (because) they are under oath,” he said.
Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas said: “100% not true. Ano kaya ang motibo nila? (What could be their motive?) Walang project ang mga Discaya sa district natin kailanman (The Discayas have no project in my district, ever. Zero. This is confirmed and certified. I will file a case against them for this blatant lie. My track record speaks for itself),” he said.
For his part, Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, also of Quezon City, said: “I categorically deny the allegation that I benefited from any contractor. I have never dealt with them.”
“Hindi po totoo ang mga akusasyon na ito (This accusation is not true). I have never used my position for personal gain, and I never will. I will avail of all remedies under the law to clear my name and hold accountable those who spread these falsehoods,” he said.
Former An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel did not reply when asked to comment on the allegation through a Viber message.
The House legislators were among those named by the Discaya couple in a sworn affidavit that they submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee whom they allegedly gave 25 percent of the cost of contracts that they bagged from the DPWH.
‘MALIGN THE HOUSE’
Romualdez slammed the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings on the flood control anomalies, saying it was obviously used to malign lawmakers like him.
Romualdez said that while Sen. Francis Escudero, who was ousted as Senate President yesterday, may consider the hearings of the panel chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as part of his legacy, “it is unfair to call them an accomplishment when they relied on unfounded claims.”
“Malinaw na ang mga pagdinig na ito ay ginamit hindi para sa katotohanan, kundi para sa paninira (It’s clear that these hearings were used not to ferret our the truth but to discredit others. And worse, the accusations came from contractors themselves—those already under investigation and admitting responsibility for ghost projects),” he said.
“True accountability rests on facts, not on innuendo. Ang sabi-sabi ay hindi ebidensiya, at ang paninira ay hindi kailanman magiging hustisya (Hearsay is not evidence and vilification will never be justice),” he said.
The Speaker said the House of Representatives “remains focused on real work — safeguarding every peso of the people’s money and serving with integrity and resolve.”
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Discayas must substantiate their claims against the lawmakers, DPWH officials and other personalities.
In briefing in Cambodia at the sidelines of the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Castro said it is important that the Discayas back up their claims with solid evidence as it is very easy to drop names and make claims.
“What the President wants is a comprehensive investigation and for us to really know the truth. What the President does not want is for name dropping without evidence,” she said in Filipino.
“But if the evidence is really substantial and it can be proven by witnesses regarding the alleged ties between politicians, the President will accept it and include it in the evidence for whatever and whoever is to be charged,” she added.
Castro reiterated there will be no sacred cows in government, echoing the earlier pronouncement of the President that no one will be spared in the food control probe, regardless if they are relatives, friends or allies.
She said those named would also be included in the investigation of the independent body. – With Jocelyn Reyes
