Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has not been linked by evidence to alleged anomalous flood control projects, his camp said, dismissing accusations against him as inconsistent with how the national budget process works.
In a statement, Romualdez spokesperson Atty. Elaine A. Atienza said no former or incumbent official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has identified the Leyte lawmaker as having participated in the planning, procurement, implementation, inspection, payment, or release of funds for any alleged ghost flood control project.
Atienza said this remained the case despite Senate and House inquiries, as well as other official investigations into the alleged irregularities.
She added that even former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who had firsthand knowledge of the department’s operations, never implicated Romualdez.
“Simple lang kung bakit — because Rep. Romualdez was not involved,” Atienza said.
Atienza argued that the allegations against Romualdez ignore the actual budget process.
“The issue traces back to the national budget process. Sa prosesong iyan — no single person, not even the Speaker of the House, can control,” she said.
She explained that the National Expenditure Program is prepared by the Executive branch through the Department of Budget and Management and implementing agencies, including the DPWH, before it is submitted to Congress for deliberation by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“No Speaker can dictate upon Cabinet secretaries. Neither can he dictate upon senators, who exercise their own independent constitutional mandate. Sila po ay pantay-pantay diyan being elected officials. Primus inter pares,” Atienza said.
Once the budget becomes law, Atienza said the Speaker has “absolutely no authority” over project bidding, contract awards, implementation, inspections, payments, or the release of government funds.
“Hindi niya po saklaw ang pagpapa-release ng budget. Those are functions vested by law in the Executive Branch,” she said.
“Hindi kayang utusan ng Speaker ang DPWH Secretary. Hindi niya kayang diktahan ang DBM o ang Senado. At lalong hindi siya ang nagpaplano ng proyekto, nagpapa-bid, nag-a-award ng kontrata, nag-iinspeksyon, o naglalabas ng pondo,” Atienza added.
According to Atienza, portraying Romualdez as the alleged “mastermind” would require the public to believe that one person controlled every stage of the budget and infrastructure process.
“Ang gustong palabasin ng iba, parang iisang tao ang may hawak ng buong gobyerno. Hindi po ganoon ang ating Konstitusyon,” she said.
Atienza maintained that accountability should be based on evidence and should focus on those who exercised legal and operational authority over the projects.
“If there were irregularities in any infrastructure project, then those who actually exercised legal and operational authority should be identified and held accountable. Accountability must follow the evidence, not political convenience,” she said.
“Kung may nagkasala, papanagutin natin. Pero huwag nating gawing shortcut ang paghahanap ng isang malaking pangalan para lang may maipakita sa publiko,” Atienza added.
She said Romualdez was being portrayed as a “convenient excuse and political scapegoat” despite the absence of evidence linking him to the alleged anomalous projects.
“At the end of the day, justice demands only one standard,” Atienza said.
“Sa paghahanap ng hustisya, hindi puwedeng mauna ang akusasyon bago ang ebidensya. Sa batas, ang ebidensya ang nagtuturo kung sino ang mananagot,” she added.