SPEAKER Martin Romualdez has laughed off online rumors that he was hospitalized after suffering a stroke, saying it is obviously fake news being spread by “detractors” of the House of Representatives which is investigating various issues hounding Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Mag-ingat na tayo sa fake news (Beware of fake news),” Speaker Romualdez said in an interview late Saturday afternoon.
“It probably came from detractors of the House, especially because of our ongoing hearings. Naturally, there will be critics. That’s part of our job but let’s avoid spreading fake news,” he further said in Filipino.
The Speaker called on the public to avoid spreading disinformation “and instead focus on unity and positivity during the holidays.”
“I just hope they don’t resort to spreading fake news. Let’s just all work together. Positive tayo lalo na Pasko ngayon,” he said.
The Office of the Speaker earlier assailed those who started spreading the rumors on social media on Friday night, calling it “a calculated attempt to undermine public trust in the country’s leaders.”
“These allegations are completely untrue and are clearly designed to mislead the public and sow confusion,” said lawyer Lemuel Erwin Romero, head executive assistant of the Speaker’s office.
Romero said the Speaker was too busy with work, attending public engagements, including the House members’ meeting with President Marcos Jr at Malacañang Palace last December 5 and the Chief Executive’s signing of two new laws at the Palace the next day.
The House leadership has been at loggerheads with the Vice President over the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s ongoing investigation into the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds in both the Office of Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd) which she had headed until June this year.
The issue has also been used by groups led by the Akbayan party-list group and the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in filing separate impeachment complaints against the second highest elected official of the country, who is also being investigated by the NBI after she admitted having ordered a hitman to kill President Marcos Jr., First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The House quad committee has also been holding its own investigation into the bloody war on drugs of the Rodrigo Duterte administration, which is blamed for thousands of extrajudicial killings, and for the proliferation of illegal operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), many of which are linked to criminal activities.
Romualdez assured the public he remains in the pink of health and is “fully engaged” in his responsibilities as the leader of the House of Representatives.
He said he recorded Christmas messages last Saturday and watched a movie with his family. Last Friday when the rumors started, the Speaker said he was at a dinner-meeting with governors.
“Last night, I didn’t stay up late and I even had a good night sleep. I had no appointment the following day so I was able to sleep soundly, that’s why I feel refreshed. Now, I’m feeling very, very strong and very energetic,” he said.
