Former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero stood on the Senate floor earlier today, claiming that the ongoing investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects was being diverted from its real targets.
“Iisang tao lamang Ginoong Pangulo ang nasa likod ng script at sarsuelang ito… sasabihin ko, Martin Romualdez,” Escudero declared.
He pointed out that in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, witnesses kept naming senators, but none of the congressmen allegedly involved were being called out.
“Klarong-klaro po ang script nito, ipitin ang tatlong dating DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) officials, pakantahin sa kanila, mema… memabanggit lang na Senador habang pinagtatakpan ang mga Congressman na tunay na kasabwat nila,” Escudero said.
He further questioned, “Kapani-paniwala ba na wala silang kinausap na kahit isang Congressman na nakaupo na totoong may hawak ng distrito.”
Escudero also backed Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco’s earlier statement, alleging that former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez used the national budget to push for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte—who was present during the Senate session.
“Sabi nila, pumirma kayo dahil kung hindi, hindi lalabas ang pondo nyo na naka-FLR (For Later Release) bago mag-eleksyon subalit Ginoong Pangulo, hindi ito umubra, hindi ito umubra dahil tinanggihan ito ni PBBM,” Escudero said.
He noted that Romualdez now appears to be retaliating against senators who voted in favor of archiving the impeachment case against VP Duterte.
It will be recalled that some contractors and former DPWH officials had previously implicated Escudero, along with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva and former Senator Bong Revilla, in allegedly receiving kickbacks from questionable flood control projects.